Astaxanthin wins full GRAS status

Fuji Health Science, the American subsidiary of Japanese supplier, Fuji Chemical Industry, has won a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) thumb’s up from the FDA for its astaxanthin form – AstaREAL.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a letter of no-objection to Fuji on January 6, following on from Fuji filing for GRAS for the eye health carotenoid on July 7.

"Achieving GRAS status fulfills one more milestone in Fuji's global development program of AstaREAL astaxanthin and opens the door for marketing astaxanthin as a food ingredient in the US as well as to increase greater global awareness of this magnificent material," said Fuji Chemical CEO and president, Mitsunori Nishida.