Chinova Bioworks’ upcycled mushroom fiber lands GRAS status

03 Aug 2022 --- Canada-based Chinova Bioworks’ Chiber Mushroom Fiber has been credited with GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Used as a natural F&B preservative, the ingredient aims to bring a natural replacement for artificial preservatives.

“Mushrooms have long been overlooked by our food system for their incredible functional properties, but we have found a great use for this mushroom fiber as a natural replacement for artificial preservatives,” says David Brown, co-founder and chief operations officer, Chinova Bioworks.

The company explains it seeks to meet consumer demands for transparency and clean-label products, with the GRAS status aiming to help the company expand to the US.

To obtain s GRAS status, Chiber’s manufacturer was required to perform the necessary research and testing, so as to demonstrate it is safe for public use.

The ingredient stems from upcycled white button mushrooms.Broadening market
Chiber is a natural mushroom fiber derived from the upcycled stems of white button mushrooms. It is designed to improve quality, freshness and shelf-life for various F&B products such as cottage cheese, plant-based meats and hummus. 

“Regulatory compliance can be intimidating for companies looking to expand into regions outside of their own country since each one has its own guidelines,” remarks Dr. Shahrzad Tafazoli, lead regulatory scientist for Chinova.

In its efforts leading up to the GRAS status distinction, Chinova Bioworks convened an independent expert panel of scientists to evaluate its processes in accordance with scientific procedures. 

The company also enlisted the guidance of Intertek, a leading provider of comprehensive science-based quality, safety and assurance solutions, to assist in developing and implementing the necessary tests.

“Chinova Bioworks and Intertek worked collaboratively to prepare the safety studies, toxicology reviews and show the effectiveness of Chiber in a variety of F&B products,” states the company.

Expanding opportunities
The FDA’s GRAS status comes on the heels of Chinova Bioworks receiving series A funding, channeled toward expanding its manufacturing capabilities. 

The company is now working on a functional mushroom ingredient for wine, beer, seltzer and cider applications, which is positioned as a vegan alternative to a synthetic fining agent. 

Industry has been broadly experimenting with natural alternatives to preservatives. Last year, researchers identified resveratrol taken from Japanese knotweed holds potential for replacing the nitrite preservative in cured meats, such as bacon and sausages. 

Mushrooms are increasingly in the spotlight for their nutritious potential, including boosting “shortfall nutrients” such as vitamin D, potassium and fiber without increasing calories, sodium or fat. 

Edited by Andria Kades