Cargill’s canola lecithin granted GRAS “letter of no objection” by U.S. FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) Letter of No Objection for Cargill’s canola lecithin for use as a multipurpose ingredient in a variety of foods.

This determination gives food manufacturers another tool to deliver label-friendly product attributes consumers increasingly seek. Canola lecithin is a non-GMO^* option, may be used in organic products¹ and does not have to be declared as a major food allergen in the US.

“Increasingly, our customers wish to formulate their products with simple ingredients that consumers know and trust,” said Cargill Texturizing Solutions Regional Director Americas, David Henstrom. “We know lecithin is well accepted by consumers. By adding canola lecithin to our well-established soy and sunflower lecithin GMO and Non-GMO portfolio, our customers can be assured that whatever their needs, we have plant-sourced lecithin options that will work for them.”

A versatile emulsifier and dispersing agent, Cargill’s canola lecithin may be used in a wide variety of food applications, including chocolate and confectionery, beverages, bakery and convenience foods. Its dispersibility as well as its functionality, taste and color are comparable to that of soy and sunflower lecithin. As a result, Cargill’s canola lecithin may be used as a one-to-one replacement for other lecithin types, making it easy for food manufacturers to incorporate into their product formulations with only minor adaptations.

Among their many applications, Cargill researchers have determined that the company’s premium plant-sourced lecithin products can be used to reduce the number of ingredients in commercial breads, helping meet consumer demand for simpler labels with fewer ingredients.

*Non-GMO – there is no worldwide definition of the term “non-GMO.” The definition of “non-GMO” varies widely from country to country. Some countries have no regulatory definition of “non-GMO,” and some countries consider a product to be “non-GMO” if it is exempt from mandatory GMO-labeling in that country. Requirements for mandatory GMO-labeling also vary widely from country to country. Various private standards groups and certifying agencies have also developed their own definitions of and standards for non-GMO.

¹ Under certain circumstances per 7 CFR § 205.606.

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Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 150,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

Cargill’s texturizers business specializes in the production of texturizing ingredients that link the core food-building blocks (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and water) into finished foods and beverages. Our ingredients portfolio, derived from plant sources, is comprised of extracts from major crops (starches, soy proteins and lecithins), seaweeds (carrageenans), fruits (pectins) and sugar fermentation (xanthan gum). These specialized ingredients are also applied to offerings in the personal care, pharmaceutical and industrial categories.

Coupled with global technical and research and development skills, Cargill helps customers design nutritious, convenient and tasty foods to satisfy consumers.

Our texturizing business is operational in all continents with 31 sales offices and 20 manufacturing plants.