EFSA offers positive opinion for use of Bimuno GOS in food for special medical purposes

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Clasado Biosciences (Reading, UK) has announced that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given a positive opinion on the extension of the use of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) as a novel food in food for special medical purposes (‘FSMP’) in the EU. This was accomplished in collaboration with Clasada’s partner GLNP Life Sciences BV (‘GNLP’), a specialist FSMP producer in Europe.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA reviewed the safety of prebiotic GOS, specifically Bimuno GOS as a novel food to be used in FSMPs intended for the dietary management of impaired gastrointestinal issues in hospitalized patients. The opinion was published on March 30, 2022. The use of Bimuno GOS is still pending approval from the European Commission.

“With the EFSA positive opinion on the use of GOS in FSMP applications, this presents the opportunity to embark on a brand-new and promising journey for the business. The opinion published in the EFSA Journal centers around indirectly tackling malnutrition in hospitalized patients where gut microbiome dysbiosis is a common factor; fiber content is key and as a prebiotic substrate, Bimuno GOS certainly fits the bill,” said Per Rehné, CEO of Clasado Bioscience, in a press release. “Following an eventual authorization from the Commission, we can hopefully affect more positive change across the spectrum of health and wellbeing. This positive opinion is a fantastic step forward, whereby we appreciate GLNP’s efforts in helping to unlock Bimuno GOS potential in FSMP’s.”

“Using prebiotics within the FSMP category represents an exciting opportunity where prebiotics can potentially play a key role within the European market,” added Gijs Roozendaal, general manager at GLNP Food Sciences BV. “Working with a leading prebiotic ingredient developer like Clasado, that focuses on strong scientific backing, is an essential step in accelerating our understanding of gut-mediated health, and crucially, turning that knowledge into action and solutions that make a difference.”