“21st Century Ginseng” Product Receives Self-Affirmed GRAS Status

14 Nov 2013 --- RFI Ingredients and Ilhwa North America are pleased to announce that an independent expert panel has given GS15-4, the “21st Century Ginseng,” self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status. After a comprehensive evaluation of research studies and toxicology data, the panel concluded that GS15-4 is safe for use as an ingredient in a variety of products including beverages, confectionery products, dietary supplements and nutritional bars.

According to the FDA, self-affirmed GRAS status is awarded to any substance that is generally recognized among qualified experts as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use and is manufactured in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practices.

“GS15-4 is a breakthrough technology using enzyme fermentation to produce a completely balanced ginseng extract in its end-stage metabolite form,” said David C. Konn, President of Ilhwa North America. “Human clinical studies have proven that it provides 15 times higher absorption, four times faster absorption and five times more consistent absorption.”

“Ginseng has been one of the top-selling herbal supplements for years. With self-affirmed GRAS status, we can now offer an improved, more bioavailable ginseng for use in many more applications,” said Jeff Wuagneux, RFI’s President and CEO. RFI is the exclusive manufacturing, formulation and sales partner of Ilhwa NA Inc., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Korea’s groundbreaking leader in ginseng science, Ilhwa.

Established in 1989, RFI is headquartered in Blauvelt, NY. RFI is a formulation-driven company specializing in exceptional products, services and solutions for the dietary supplement, food and beverage industries. Its experienced staff, state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technologies help its customers develop, manufacture and market complete and targeted products. By capitalizing on its natural, organic and science-driven ingredients, existing expertise and global network of manufacturing facilities, RFI does more than just sell ingredients...it offers turnkey products using its Field to Formula vertically-integrated model. RFI’s extensive network of manufacturing facilities in North America, South America and China provides customers with multiple natural product ingredient solutions worldwide.