Burcon self-certifies pea protein as GRAS

28 Jun 2018

Canadian natural product extraction, purification and isolation technologies company Burcon NutraScience has announced that its Peazazz and Peazac pea proteins have received self-affirmed GRAS status.

Canadian natural product extraction, purification and isolation technologies company Burcon NutraScience has announced that its Peazazz and Peazac pea proteins have received self-affirmed Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status, and the Company has officially submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) a formal GRAS Notification dossier. Burcon says it engaged experts to proactively gather and provide the scientific evidence necessary to affirm this important FDA designation recognizing Burcon’s Peazazz and Peazac pea proteins as safe.

Obtaining GRAS status is important for the acceptance and use of these protein ingredients by leading food and beverage companies, the company notes. GRAS status removes regulatory barriers for food innovators, ingredient buyers, and mass-market food service buyers to use Burcon’s Peazazz and Peazac pea proteins in their product offerings. The demand for pea protein is expanding rapidly, Burcon says, and is now an in-demand ingredient for fast growing specialty food companies, as well as large-scale multinational consumer-packaged goods (CPG) companies seeking to respond to consumer demand for more natural, and high-nutrition products.

For a substance to be considered GRAS, Burcon says, scientific data and information about the intended use of the substance must be widely known and there must be a consensus among qualified experts that the data and information establish the substance is safe under the conditions of its intended use. GRAS status is the standard set by the US FDA for food ingredients to be accepted for use in foods and beverages. With today’s announcement, Burcon’s Peazazz and Peazac are officially affirmed GRAS.

Burcon has chosen to also pursue GRAS Notification for Peazazz and Peazac. GRAS Notification is an additional voluntary procedure whereby a company informs the FDA of its determination that the use of a substance is GRAS. A substance is GRAS notified when, after reviewing the GRAS notification, the FDA responds with a no-objection letter indicating that it is satisfied with the submission.

“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in the development of Burcon’s novel pea proteins Peazazz and Peazac,” said Johann Tergesen, Burcon’s president and chief operating officer. “We are looking forward to offering our novel pea protein products to customers and consumers in Canada, North America and worldwide.”