Super antioxidant Ergothioneine achieves GRAS status from FDA

Emerging studies reveal Ergothioneine consumption is correlated to reducing mild cognitive impairment

Southern California-based ingredient supplier and manufacturer, Blue California has announced that the FDA has issued a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) letter for ErgoActive® (Ergothioneine) or (Ergo) under its “intended conditions of use.” This decision enables product manufacturers to incorporate the powerful antioxidant compound in a variety of marketable consumer products including cosmetic, beauty, food, beverages and nutraceutical applications.

Blue California offers this proprietary ingredient, which is the only ergothioneine product on the market made by natural fermentation. “Blue California’s unique fermentation process is the industry’s preferred solution since all alternatives are chemically synthesized,” said Katie Ferren, vice president of sales and marketing.

Ergo’s super antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help to prevent and combat oxidative stress. The naturally occurring amino acid is normally provided to the body from dietary sources such as mushrooms in which it is particularly rich. Recent studies have found correlations between Ergo levels in the body, consumption of mushrooms, and reduced incidence of age-related cognitive impairment.

“Achieving GRAS status makes ErgoActive® a marketable and valuable source commercially,” said Hadi Omrani, director of technical and regulatory affairs.

Of three relevant publications, the most recent from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease on March 12, 2019, was entitled “The Association between Mushroom Consumption and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.”

The study was conducted in Singapore by a consortium effort of life science professionals at medical schools, university bioscience departments, and hospitals. It found that adults aged 60 years old and older who consumed fewer mushrooms than the same control age group who consumed more mushrooms, had a higher rate of mild cognitive impairment. The data supported an emerging hypothesis that bioactive compounds of mushrooms and Ergo in particular may delay the onset of neurodegeneration.