ANVISA grants novel food certification for Levagen

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Gencor’s Levagen, a clinically studied form of palmitolethanolamide (PEA), has been granted novel foods certification by Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency ANVISA.

The certification allows Gencor to market and sell Levagen as “ANVISA-certified” within Brazil, said the company in a release.

“The ANVISA Novel Food certification opens the Brazilian market for Levagen and strengthens Gencor’s position as an innovator of ingredients that consumers can trust,” said R.V. Venkatesh, Gencor’s Managing Director.

“We are very happy to have achieved the certification and will continue to provide ingredients that are well-studied and convey benefits that consumers value.”

Palmitolethanolamide (PEA) was first discovered in 1957 as a component in egg yolk, when egg yolk was being researched for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is a fatty acid amide that helps to stimulate production of endocannabinoids in the body.

PEA is an endogenous compound that is produced by our body as a first responder to pain, stress, inflammation and is used up locally in all tissues. It can be offset and restored when depleted through dietary supplementation.