German start-up wins EU probiotic novel foods approval
“This new proprietary bacterial strain was specifically selected for its unique human related health properties,” the company says on its website, noting research on the strain indicated it could boost antibody production and thereby the immune system. It was conducting its own clinical trials.
Avitop is promoting a heat-treated, fermented milk product called ‘CorriX’ that contains the strain, which also has ‘Generally Recognised As Safe’ (GRAS) status in the US.
"Achieving GRAS and novel food status is a major milestone for Avitop and allows for accelerated product development and commercialisation both in the United States and Europe," said Avitop director Dr Philippe Ulsemer.
"We are fully committed to use our know-how, technologies and ingenuity to develop new probiotic, nutraceutical and food concepts with unmet functionality to provide customers with a new generation of functional food that will help to manage health and well-being from the inside-out."
In the run-up to the novel foods approval that was issued via Irish authorities, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) deemed the strain safe in heat-treated fermented milks.
