Chinova Bioworks (Chinova), a Canadian company addressing consumers’ demand for healthy, natural, clean-label ingredients, received a No Questions Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding their Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Notice No. GRN 000997 application for Chiber Mushroom Fiber, a natural food and beverage preservative.

The FDA created the GRAS procedure to ensure companies performed the necessary research and testing, demonstrating their food ingredients are safe for the public at the intended levels and use specified within the application. A No Question Letter is the FDA’s communication showing an ingredient is permitted for use. FDA GRAS status is recognized in many countries outside the U.S. and aids in garnering regulatory ingredient acceptance abroad.

Chiber is a natural mushroom fiber derived from the upcycled stems of white button mushrooms. This fiber functions as a natural preservative used to improve the quality, freshness, and shelf-life of various food and beverage products such as cottage cheese, plant-based meats, and hummus.

"We’re excited to get this additional level of regulatory acceptance for Chiber, as it shows our commitment to making it a healthy and transparent ingredient for consumers. Mushrooms have long been overlooked by our food system for their incredible functional properties, but we have found a great use for this mushroom fiber as a natural replacement for artificial preservatives," said David Brown, co-founder and COO of Chinova Bioworks. "After years of preparation, analysis, and research needed to show the safety, quality, and natural processing, we are so pleased to have received this No Questions Letter from the FDA."

Chinova Bioworks also received FEMA-GRAS status for Chiber on June 10, 2019, from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association which has one of the longest and most widely recognized GRAS assessment programs in the world. With the GRAS uses of Chiber recognized by FEMA and through the FDA’s GRAS voluntary GRAS notification program, Chinova’s Chiber now has a global regulatory reach as a safe and effective natural preservative.

The positive evaluation of Chiber by the U.S. FDA comes on the heels of Chinova Bioworks receiving Series A funding, allowing the company to expand its manufacturing capabilities. The company is now working on another innovative functional mushroom ingredient that offers wine, beer, seltzer, and cider producers a vegan alternative to synthetic fining agents. This innovation is planned for a launch in mid-August of 2022.

About Chinova Bioworks
 Chinova Bioworks is a Canadian company that addresses the growing consumer demand for healthy, natural, clean-label ingredients. Chinova has developed a natural preservative extracted from the stems of white button mushrooms for various food and beverage products. Chinova's natural, clean-label technology reduces the reliance on artificial ingredients & improves quality, freshness, and shelf-life, encouraging healthier long-lasting effects, increased customer satisfaction, and reduced food waste.