Martin Bauer North America Achieves GRAS Status for its Go-Luo Line of Luo Han Guo Fruit Concentrates

12/12/07 Martin Bauer (MB) North America has received independent GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) designation for its Go-Luo standardized liquid and powdered juice concentrates for use in food and beverage applications. An independent panel of recognized experts assembled by CANTOX Health Sciences International deemed the company's Go-Luo line to be GRAS following a critical review of extensive safety data based on scientific procedures and safety assessment criteria established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"With our Go-Luo ingredients, food and beverage manufacturers can create low-calorie, sugar-free products that are in great consumer demand, as well as offerings that meet the dietary constraints of diabetics," stated Stefan Wypyszyk, vice president of marketing, MB North America.

The GRAS assessment of the Go-Luo line included consideration of the long history of use of luo han guo fruit as a conventional food, as well as results from testing that address the safety and toxicity of the fruit. Luo han guo fruit is used extensively in China in a variety of traditional dishes and as a seasoning or condiment. MB North America's Go-Luo liquid and powdered juice concentrates are approximately 300 - 500 times as sweet as sucrose and provide manufacturers with ingredients that deliver non-caloric sweetness from a natural source for the formulation of healthy, reduced calorie foods and beverages with consumer friendly labels. The Go-Luo concentrates are also Kosher and Halal certified, allowing for their use in products that meet the dietary restrictions of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Go-Luo is manufactured by the world's leading luo han guo fruit producer, Guilin Layn Natural Ingredients, and is distributed by MB North America. Guilin Layn, which cultivates the luo han guo fruit in adherence to stringent Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards, also invests heavily in ensuring a safe and secure future supply of luo han guo via in-house seed propagation and farming partnership efforts.