10.01.04
Linguagen Corporation, a taste technology company based in Cranford, NJ, recently received a letter from FDA indicating that the agency does not have any questions regarding the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of its bitter blocker adenosine monophosphate (AMP). AMP is a natural compound, which may be used in food and beverage products and in oral pharmaceuticals to help block the bitter taste often found in these products. In 2003, a patent exclusively licensed by Linguagen was issued for these uses and AMP was declared GRAS when a panel of three independent scientific experts reviewed the compound. After receiving the GRAS determination, however, Linguagen voluntarily submitted the AMP safety package to the FDA for review.