Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, has announced that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has positively assessed the safety of BetaVia™ Complete as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. This positive opinion will allow Kemin to be granted a five-year exclusivity on sales of BetaVia Complete in Europe.
BetaVia Complete, an algae-sourced beta-glucan ingredient for year-round immune support, is manufactured through a patented process using a proprietary strain of algae, Euglena gracilis ATCC PTA-123017, and is the first and only ingredient derived from this strain to be issued a positive opinion from EFSA.
EFSA is the European Union’s independent agency that provides scientific opinions and assesses risks in the food chain. The novel food opinion on BetaVia Complete, which is publicly available on EFSA’s website, reflects the thorough safety evaluation performed by the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens on Kemin’s immune support ingredient. EFSA considers BetaVia Complete safe when used in food supplements; foods for total diet replacement for weight control; and as a food ingredient added to a number of food products. EFSA could not have reached this positive conclusion without Kemin’s proprietary safety data.
BetaVia Complete contains greater than 50 percent beta 1,3 glucan, as well as proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and carotenoids. This nutrient-rich ingredient is derived from a dried, whole algae (Euglena gracilis) fermentate, making it ideal for year-round immune support products.
“EFSA conducted an extremely rigorous evaluation of the safety data on BetaVia Complete, and this tremendous achievement demonstrates the strength of the novel food dossier Kemin Human Nutrition and Health submitted to EFSA,” said Pedro Vieira, Vice President – Europe and Latin America, Kemin Human Nutrition and Health. “We are extremely excited to receive EFSA’s positive opinion for our ingredient, BetaVia Complete, as Europe is a key market in terms of growth for both BetaVia and Kemin Human Nutrition and Health.”
BetaVia Complete is a unique, algae-sourced, nutrient-rich ingredient that supports the immune system in three distinct ways to naturally and effectively enhance overall health and wellness. BetaVia Complete’s triple-action protection includes:
- Priming innate immune cells – the body’s first line of natural defense
- Fueling the growth of beneficial “good bacteria” – including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria – in the gut microbiota, which hosts most of the body’s immune cells
- Protecting the health of intestinal cells, which are essential in maintaining the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract so it can act as a protective physical barrier and immune shield
These beneficial immune effects translate into health benefits which are supported by clinical and preclinical research on the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract.
“With increasing consumer demand for products that offer immune support, we are very excited to be one step closer to making BetaVia Complete available to European consumers who seek solutions to live a healthier life,” said Miguel Martinho, Marketing Manager – Europe, Kemin Human Nutrition and Health.
