Canadian Agency Rules That Food Ingredient That Induces Feelings Of Fullness Is Non-Novel

Health Canada has confirmed in a letter of non-objection that Kemin Health’s Slendesta food ingredient is not considered a novel food and may be marketed as such for use in conventional foods and beverages without a pre-market notification process. Slendesta has achieved the same status in Europe; in the U.S. the FDA ruled it was GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for use in foods and beverages. The active component in Slendesta, Proteinase Inhibitor II (PI2), is derived from U.S.-grown white potatoes. According to the company, the compound enhances the body’s natural release of cholecystokinin (CCK), a signaling peptide that travels through the bloodstream and helps induce feelings of fullness and satisfaction, thus helping people control hunger and perhaps make dieting easier.