Selenium-enriched yeast’s status in Europe

Selenium-enriched yeast: a highly bioavailable source of selenium

A scientific opinion from EFSA had been adopted on 09 July 2008 for “selenium-enriched yeast as source for selenium added for nutritional purposes in food for particular nutrition uses and foods (including food supplements) for the general population”. The conclusions were the followings:

• Higher bioavaibility of Lynside® Forte Se +1200 and Se +2000 than that of inorganic forms of selenium.
• No safety concern for Lynside® Forte Se +1200 and Se +2000 at proposed intake levels. Toxicity shown to be lower than inorganic selenium.

Lynside® Forte Se +1200 and Se +2000 got a positive opinion from EFSA.

Authorization of Lesaffre selenium-enriched yeast in foods (including food supplements) at a European level.

From now on, a Regulation has come into force on December 21st, 2009. It amends Directive 2002/46/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 as regards the lists of vitamins and minerals and their forms that can be added to foods (including food supplements). This new Regulation authorizes selenium-enriched yeast as a source for selenium to be:

• added to foods and
• used in the manufacture of food supplements.

The selenium-enriched yeast must comply with the following characteristics:

Selenium-enriched yeasts produced by culture in the presence of sodium selenite as selenium source and containing, in the dried form as marketed, not more than 2.5 mg Se/g. The predominant organic selenium species present in the yeast is selenomethionine (between 60 and 85% of the total extracted selenium in the product). The content of other organic selenium compounds including selenocysteine shall not exceed 10% of total extracted selenium. Levels of inorganic selenium normally shall not exceed 1% of total extracted selenium.

Lynside® Forte Se +1200 and Se +2000 correspond to this description.

Lynside® Forte Se +1200 and Se +2000 are authorized to be added to foods (including food supplements).

This data is communicated by Lesaffre for information only – It can only be used in accordance to the regulations.