In Canada, a novel food is defined

In Canada, a novel food is defined as any food that has not been used previously to any significant degree for human consumption. A similar definition exists for a novel food process. Of most immediate concern are products that contain GMOs or result from production by GMOs, products and processes that have never been used before as food or to process food, microorganisms that have never been used as food or in the processing of food, and substantially modified traditional products and processes.