Ildong Bioscience gets US FDA OK for probiotic raw materials

South Korea's Ildong Bioscience on Thursday said two of its probiotic raw materials received the certification generally recognized as safe (GRAS) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Such certification is FDA recognition of a substance's safety as a raw material for food.

The two bacteria are lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 and bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301.

The former is patented for modulation of the immune system, inhibition of the infecting bacterium helicobacter pylori and vaginitis-causing bacteria, and production of Vitamin B1, and the latter for its effect in reducing human body fat and improving obesity in companion animals.

Ildong Bioscience is also pursuing clinical research and commercial application of both bacteria.

"Aside from GRAS certification, we are enhancing competitiveness based on a market's traits through registration of natural health products with Health Canada and halal certification in Indonesia," a company source said. "We will advance overseas with our differentiated raw materials and ingredients and customized strategies for regions."

Launched in 2016, Ildong Bioscience is a health functional food affiliate of Ildong Holdings Co. that uses Ildong Pharmaceutical Co.'s proprietary technology and infrastructure in lactic acid bacteria.

Ildong Bioscience supplies probiotic raw materials and products to domestic and foreign companies using its self-developed and individually recognized raw materials and a patented four-coating method that raises stability.

Write to In-Hyuk Park at hyuk@hankyung.com