SAVANNAH, Ga.—Arboris LLC announced its entry into the North American market with the introduction of its flagship plant sterol ester product Protanica™, a heart-healthy functional food ingredient. Protanica is compatible with both organic and non-GMO certified foods, and can be used in a wide range of applications, including dairy beverages, cookies, yogurts, smoothies and others.

The European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) recently published a consensus statement that found “2 grams of plant sterols or plant stanols per day in functional foods can help manage cholesterol for those with moderate heart disease risk and who are taking statin drugs."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the following health claim: “Foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols eaten with meals or snacks for a daily total intake of 0.8 grams as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease."

“Well understood and accepted in other parts of the world, the U.S. is beginning to recognize the health benefits of plant sterol esters as a functional ingredient for heart healthy foods," said Arboris President and CEO Manuel Canales. “We are seeing an increased interest among food manufacturers looking to increase the heart-healthy cholesterol-lowering properties of their products."