SAVANNAH, Ga.—Protanica®, a plant sterol functional food ingredient from Arboris®, received non-GMO verification and become the only plant sterol currently registered by the Non-GMO Project.

This certification means that any non-GMO verified food product can incorporate Protanica as a functional ingredient without concern of losing its non-GMO status. The Non-GMO Project evaluates and tests products for conformance to rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance. Products that pass are awarded the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal, which can be used on product packaging to demonstrate this high-level of non-GMO assurance. The seal provides evidence to consumers concerned with GMO ingredients, as the verification is proven through a systematic program that evaluates both a product's ingredients (including testing of risk ingredients) and its manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standard.

The thorough assessment includes testing at numerous process points within the production chain (commonly after harvest), with each point requiring demonstration that the ingredient is in conformance with the Non-GMO Project Standard.

The movement toward non-GMO foods in the United States is following the EU's longer-established market trend where many EU countries prohibit genetically modified organisms in their foods.  Protanica, in fact, has been used as a functional food ingredient in Europe for many years, favored because it has been clinically proven to lower cholesterol naturally.

“Well established in European markets, the demand for non-GMO foods is continuing to grow in the United States as people want to know what is in the foods they are consuming," said Manuel Canales, President and CEO, Arboris, LLC.  “As a result, we are seeing an increased interest among food manufacturers looking for non-GMO ingredients, including those that provide heart-healthy cholesterol-lowering properties.  And that's good news for everyone."

Arboris introduced Protanica to the North American market earlier this year. Initial markets include dairy, baked goods, yogurts and smoothies. Arboris provides special support to food manufacturers and retailers in order to help the formulation and launch of such products. As partners, food manufacturers can obtain royalty-free license to the Protanica logo and name.

Protanica provides distinct advantages over other plant sterols on the market today, particularly because it is compatible with non-GMO certified foods. The product is also naturally occurring, clinically tested and demonstrated to be safe and effective, endorsed by the American Heart Association, and easily formulated into heart healthy foods. Protanica also has minimal sensory (taste, smell)/texture impact on food, it is manufactured under cGMPs (current Good Manufacturing Practices), and it is Kosher and Halal certified.

Adding plant sterols into a person's diet has been clinically proven to reduce cholesterol. More than 200 human clinical studies over the past 50 years have shown that sterols are safe and effective in reducing LDL “bad" cholesterol by 8 percent to 10 percent.

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."