FDA extends GRAS approval of LISTEX to all food products
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have approved LISTEX P100, a natural bacteriophage product against Listeria, as GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe), for all food products.
The approval is based on extensive safety and efficacy data and organoleptics tests confirming that LISTEX, which is made in the Netherlands by EBI Food Safety, is safe and has no impact on taste, smell, colour, and other physical properties of treated products.
Bacteriophages are harmless to humans, animals and plants, and target only bacterial cells. They are extremely specific in regard to the bacteria they recognize. The LISTEX bacteriophages target only Listeria bacteria, and are easy to apply in production processes.
In October 2006 the FDA had already proclaimed GRAS for LISTEX against Listeria in cheese. The extension to all products susceptible to Listeria opens the door for the meat and fish industry to apply LISTEX. Earlier this month, the Dutch designated inspection office SKAL confirmed the 'organic' status of LISTEX under EU law, as a result of which it can be used in the EU in regular and organic products.
"Food safety now tops the agenda of US food processing companies and consumers, who are insisting on 'green' solutions, rather than chemicals,” said EBI Food Safety's ceo, Mark Offerhaus. “Natural bacteriophages prove to be a unique solution, where increased safety does not come at the expense of product characteristics. US food processors can now benefit from LISTEX, like their European counterparts."