New ingredients for infant formulas reviewed by FDA

According to Martek Biosciences Corporation, the American provider of health nutrients derived from micro-algae, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review of the company's generally recognised as safe (GRAS) notification, reports PRNewswire. The agency acknowledged that Martek's DHASCO® and ARASCO® oil blend is GRAS when used in specified ratios in infant formulas. These infant formulas will be available in the United States as soon as infant formula manufacturers satisfy FDA's pre-market notification procedures relating to infant formula. Currently, infant formula containing DHASCO® and ARASCO® is sold in over 60 countries by various infant formula manufacturers, licensees of Martek Biosciences Corporation​. Martek's oil blend contains two long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), both of which are found in mother's' breast-milk. These substances have been demonstrated to be important building blocks for the brain and retinal development of infants. Both DHASCO® and ARASCO® are derived from vegetable sources and represent a close match to the form of DHA and ARA found in mother's breast- milk. "This response from the FDA represents a major step in clearing the way for American babies to receive these important breast-milk ingredients in infant formula,"​ commented Henry Linsert, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Martek Biosciences Corporation. Source: PRNewswire​