EpiCor postbiotic ingredient is now GRAS

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EpiCor, a postbiotic from Cargill (Ankeny, Iowa)—a dried yeast fermentate clinically shown beneficially modulate the gut microbiota and support the immune system—received a letter of no objection for Cargill’s GRAS (generally recognized as safe) notice from FDA . This enables manufacturers to incorporate EpiCore into food and beverage products.

“Increasingly, consumers are seeking food and beverages that offer better ways to support their health,” said Chuck Warta, president of Cargill Health Technologies, in a press release. “Through our work in understanding and influencing the microbiome, Cargill is creating solutions like EpiCor postbiotic that support digestive and immune health at all stages of life and help both people and pets live more healthy days.” 

In May 2021, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) published a consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics in the journal Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. According to ISAPP, postbiotics are “a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer health benefits on the host.”

“This definition validates EpiCor as a postbiotic,” said Liz Spence, general manager for EpiCor, in a press release. “Having an internationally recognized definition is an important step in broadly bringing the benefits of postbiotics to consumers. As a leader in postbiotic technology, we are continually investing in research and innovation, and EpiCor postbiotic’s GRAS status helps to further demonstrate the safety of this platform.”