10.01.08
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Additives has given a positive scientific opinion on the use of Lalmin selenium yeast, from Lallemand Health Ingredients (LHI), Copenhagen, Denmark, in foods and dietary supplements. The panel concluded that organically bound selenium yeast complying with specific characteristics is safe for use in foods, supplements and foods for particular nutritional use. The panel looked at the bioavailability and metabolism of the mineral source, and identified the high level of selenomethionine (60% to 85% of the selenium content) to be responsible for the superior bioavailability of the compound. The panel also concluded that yeast with high levels of organically bound selenium, such as Lalmin Se, is up to twice as bioavailable than inorganic forms of selenium.