Verdure Sciences Receives GRAS Status for Longvida Optimized Curcumin

As a result of the GRAS determination, safe usage levels of 0.2% to 1.25% of Longvida were recommended across a range of food and beverage categories.

24 Aug 2012 --- The safety determination, conducted by an independent, internationally recognized expert panel of scientists, is based on more than a dozen clinical, preclinical and safety studies on Longvida, along with scores of supporting studies on curcumin by a number of government and university research groups.

As a result of the assessment, Longvida has been determined as a safe additive for a variety of foods and beverages when used as a flavoring agent (flavor enhancer) [21 CFR§170.3(o)(11)] and as an antioxidant in various food categories, including but not limited to use in the following product types:

   ·         Geriatric and healthy-aging nutrition beverages (dairy- and non-dairy based, including ready-to-drink and powdered  beverages;

    ·         Beverages supporting cognitive, gastrointestinal, liver and joint health (dairy- and non-dairy based, including ready-to-drink and powdered beverages);

    ·         Sports nutrition beverages (dairy and non-dairy based, including ready-to-drink and powdered beverages);

    ·         Processed fruits and vegetable products, including fruit and vegetable juices and juice products, concentrates, dilutions, “ades”, and drink substitutes;

    ·         Nutritional food bars and baked goods, including energy bars, breakfast bars, granola bars and cereal bars;

    ·         Milk products, including milk drinks, weight control milk beverages, and other milk origin products.

As a result of the GRAS determination, safe usage levels of 0.2% to 1.25% of Longvida were recommended across a range of food and beverage categories.

“We are pleased to receive this independent safety assessment of Longvida,” said Blake Ebersole, Technical Director at Verdure Sciences. “The substantial evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of Longvida, particularly at low-dose levels makes it an ideal ingredient for food and beverage products.”

In published 90-day subchronic toxicity study included in the GRAS assessment, Longvida showed no toxicity at 720 mg/kg body weight/day, the highest dose tested (1).  This dose is 100 times the dosage range recommended for human use, after adjusting for body weight.  Longvida adheres to the most stringent global standards for impurities, and contains no piperine, crude lecithin, volatile oils, gluten, sugar, salt, artificial preservatives or additives.

The GRAS determination also covers Longvida SD, a form of Longvida which is one of the first forms of curcumin that is easily water-dispersible in solution for food and beverage applications.