BioAstin Astaxanthin Declared GRAS

BioAstin, the natural astaxanthin ingredient from Cyanotech Corp. (Kailua-Kona, HI), has been self-affirmed generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food, beverages, and supplements, at a dose of 1.5 mg/serving. The GRAS determination was conducted by GRAS Associates LLC.

Cyanotech says that a competitor’s astaxanthin also recently obtained GRAS status, but at a 0.1 mg/serving dose that Cyanotech says does not offer significant antioxidant benefits. By contrast, the company says, “A 1.5 mg dose is an efficacious level for antioxidant applications.”

“Cyanotech is very happy to have BioAstin self-affirmed GRAS, which will allow manufacturers to use BioAstin in a variety of functional foods and beverage applications,” says Gerald Cysewski, the company’s founder and chief science officer. “We took the extra steps to make sure our GRAS status can deliver a significant antioxidant punch for consumers.”

Competitors Closing Facilities

Cyanotech also briefed industry about recent developments in the natural astaxanthin markets. It says that two suppliers of natural astaxanthin in Japan, Yamaha Motors and Fuji Chemical, recently closed astaxanthin production facilities. Fuji Chemical will still maintain its astaxanthin product site in Sweden. Yamaha Motors, however, intends to completely exit the market, Cyanotech said.

“We’ve seen many companies enter into the natural astaxanthin product arena over the years, and most of them have failed,” says Cysewski. “It’s an extremely difficult microalgae to produce.”

“With the closure of the Fuji and Yamaha facilities, and Cyanotech’s improvements in our own capacity, we now have a commanding presence in the astaxanthin market as not only the quality leaders, but also the clear leader in kilos produced,” he stated.