Minneapolis / MN. (maha) Manitoba Harvest, the global leader in hemp food, announces that the company’s complete line of hemp seeds, oil and protein powder have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). This is a historic first for the hemp industry, as Manitoba Harvest is the only company to proactively gather and provide the scientific evidence necessary to affirm this sought-after Food and Drug Administration designation, which recognizes a substance as safe among experts. The following statement was issued by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D.
«We are announcing that the agency has completed our evaluation of three «Generally Recognized as Safe» notices related to hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil and that the agency had no questions regarding the company’s conclusion that the use of such products as described in the notices is safe. Therefore, these products can be legally marketed in human foods for these uses without food additive approval, provided they comply with all other requirements and do not make disease treatment claims.»
«We are entering a new era for hemp in America,» says Bill Chiasson, chief executive officer of Manitoba Harvest. «The FDA support for our GRAS status removes all barriers for food makers, ingredient buyers, and mass-market food service buyers to use these protein-packed, omega-rich hemp foods in their product offerings. Hemp foods are experiencing explosive growth based on consumer demand for powerful, plant-based nutrition.»
Added Ryan Bracken, vice president of innovation at Manitoba Harvest, «Achieving clearance of our GRAS submission was an in-depth and exhaustive process, and we appreciate the rigor by which the FDA reviewed our research. For the past 20 years, we have confidently supplied the highest quality hemp ingredients, nevertheless we are excited to achieve this historic FDA ‘first’. This represents an opportunity to broaden consumer access to the nutritional benefits of hemp seeds and bring an even broader array of the highest quality hemp-based ingredients to consumers.»
About Manitoba Harvest
Founded in 1998, Manitoba Harvest is a pioneer and leader in the manufacture and distribution of branded, hemp-based foods. The Company’s products are the fastest growing products in the hemp food market and among the fastest growing in the entire natural foods industry. The Company’s all-natural product portfolio includes Hemp Hearts, protein powder, and new to the market, Hemp Yeah! Granola, launching in January 2019. Manitoba Harvest’s products are sold globally across 22 countries, including approximately 16,000 retail stores across the United States and Canada.
Every decision we make, every action we take, and every interaction we create is influenced by how it will impact the community and environment around us. Embracing this mission, we’re proud to be a Certified B Corporation. Manitoba Harvest is the branded consumer products division of Fresh Hemp Foods. Fresh Hemp Foods also has an ingredients division doing business as Hemp Oil Canada Inc.
