Kemin's FloraGLO received GRAS approval

On the third day of the Institute of Food Technologists 2001 Annual Meeting in New Orleans the IFT reported that attendance figures were up from last year to a record 18,919 visitors on Monday. At the show on June 25, the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) announced a new check sample for detecting genetically modified (GM) grains. The series is offered from the AACC International check Sample and Proficiency Testing Service and was developed in response to the food industry's need, the AACC claims. Laboratories subscribing to the service will be able to ensure that raw materials meet specifications.The series consists of bimonthly samples of ground corn and/or ground soybean. Subscribers can use any method of analysis. Data will be compiled, statistically compared, and returned to all subscribers. An Analytical Accuracy Award will be granted annually to the subscriber with the highest number of accurate results. Global manufacturer of antioxidant ingredients Kemin Foods, L.C. informed the exhibition on Monday that its FloraGLO brand purified lutein has received GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status. "Now that we have GRAS approval, Kemin Foods is poised to move forward in the functional food market,"​ commented Alex Fink, Kemin Foods brand manager. "We've completed industry research which concluded that sixty-three per cent of consumers are interested in purchasing lutein-fortified foods and beverages.Among the health conscious consumers, that number increases too ninety-two per cent."​ Elsewhere, David Michael & Co., Inc., a global supplier of flavours, stabilisers and natural vegetable extracts for the food and beverage industry, announce that it has signed a joint venture agreement with Aromatics S.A.S of France. Source: FoodNavigator.com editorial team