Earthlight Whole Food Vitamin D has received approval from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária: ANVISA), according to PLT Health Solutions, allowing for use in food, beverages and supplements. As a whole-food, plant-based, non-GMO and organic ingredient, Earthlight offers product formulators a clean label source of vitamin D.

In Brazil, ANVISA is responsible for coordinating, supervising, and controlling the activities of registration, inspection, and risk control of all new raw materials. In 2020, Earthlight received Novel Foods Approval in Europe and allowance in a range of food and beverage categories in the U.S. via Food Additive Petition (FAP).

ANVISA’s approval of Earthlight is timely considering the rapidly growing interest in vitamin D supplementation, said Jay Martin, managing director, global sales at PLT Health Solutions. “Earthlight is the right ingredient at the right time for food and beverage producers and over-the-counter supplement formulators in Brazil, as well as multinationals seeking to create global formulations. Interest in vitamin D and its role in supporting immunity, bone health, healthy aging and overall good health has increased dramatically in the last three years.”

Earthlight is produced from mushrooms via a patented process by exposing these mushrooms to light. Minimally processed without any extract solvents, Earthlight delivers 1,000 micrograms (40,000 IU) of vitamin D per gram of ingredient.

Such a high concentration of vitamin D allows for low use levels, which also means it won’t affect organoleptics in food or beverage products, PLT Health Solutions noted. Earthlight is available in both conventional and organic grades.

To secure approval for Earthlight, PLT Health Solutions consulted with Brazilian regulatory specialist Visanco Assistencia Tecnica e Administrativa Eireli (Brasilia), who assembled the dossier that addressed the requirements of ANVISA on dietary ingredients. PLT worked with Earthlight innovator Oakshire Naturals and PLT’s exclusive Brazilian distributor for retail products, Tovani Benzaquen Ingredientes (Sao Paulo), to compile the information for the dossier and respond to comments and questions from ANVISA. The approval process for Earthlight took nearly two years.

“Vitamin D has been a subject of intense interest in Brazil over the last two years,” said Moses Benzaquen, director presidente of Tovani Benzaquen. “Earthlight is a perfect way to introduce a high quality vitamin D into products for health conscious people. Made from high quality mushrooms, it is organic, non-GMO, minimally processed and sustainable. We look forward to working with PLT in bringing these benefits to the Brazilian market,” he said.