Polyphenolics Expand GRAS Notification

29/08/07 Polyphenolics expands its self-affirmed GRAS notification for beverages to 200 mg per serving MegaNatural-BP Grape Seed Extract, MegaNatural Gold and MegaNatural GSKE Grape Pomace Extract are also determined GRAS for a very wide variety of food products

For the third time Polyphenolics, a division of Constellation Wines U.S., had expanded the self-affirmed Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status of its MegaNatural-BP, MegaNatural Gold Grape Seed Extract and MegaNatural GSKE Grape Pomace Extract. These ingredients were first determined GRAS for use in fruit juices and fruit flavored beverages, and then for use in cereals, food bars, yogurt and yogurt desserts. Now, they carry an increased GRAS level for use as antioxidants in fruit juices and fruit flavored beverages to 200 mg. per 8 ounce serving.

In addition, each of these ingredients is now self-affirmed GRAS for use in a variety of foods, including frozen dairy desserts and mixes, grains and pasta products, milk products, bakery items and bakery mixes, cheeses; chewing gum, condiments and relishes, confections and frostings, jams and jellies, dessert mixes, meal replacement mixes, gravies and sauces, hard and soft candies, sweet sauces, and toppings and syrups at 100 mg per serving.

MegaNatural-BP has been evaluated in two human clinicals for its effect on blood pressure at University of California, Davis. The first clinical on patients with metabolic syndrome showed a drop of 12 mm in systolic and 8 mm in diastolic blood pressure when the patient took a minimum of 150 mg once per day for one month. The second clinical on patients with prehypertension showed a drop of 8 mm in systolic and 5 mm in diastolic blood pressure when the patients took 300 mg once per day for two months.  

"This expanded GRAS determination for MegaNatural-BP will allow beverage manufactures to incorporate an effective dose for blood pressure in a single serving," stated Anil Shrikhande, Ph.D., president of Polyphenolics.