Kensing LLC has received EU authorization for its ingredient Sunvasterol, plant sterols sourced from sunflower seeds. This approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for sunflower phytosterols offers food formulators and dietary supplement brands a clean-label, allergen-free, sustainably sourced alternative to traditional soy, rapeseed, and pine-based sterols shown to reduce cholesterol.

Sunvasterol pure sunflower sterols are derived from sunflower oil distillates. They are developed and produced at Kensing’s facilities in Valencia and Talavera de la Reina, Spain, from an upcycled byproduct of sunflower oil.

Phytosterols are a natural lipid component of oil seeds, grains, nuts, legumes, and other plant seeds. They reduce cholesterol by competing with dietary and biliary cholesterol for absorption in the intestines, thereby lowering the amount of cholesterol entering the bloodstream. This absorption inhibition helps to reduce total and LDL-cholesterol levels.

Sunflower phytosterols are supported by EFSA-approved health claims indicating that a daily intake of 1.5–3.0 g can help reduce total and LDL cholesterol by about 7–12% over 2–3 weeks when incorporated into authorized food categories. A daily intake of at least 0.8 g of plant sterols can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Since 2000, sterols and stanols from soy, pine, and other plants have enjoyed EFSA authorizations for their role in helping to lower blood cholesterol. A full Novel Food dossier was submitted to seek approval for sunflower-based phytosterols with a broader specification for use in food supplements and fortified foods.

Following an evaluation of Sunvasterol through the EFSA Novel Food application process, the new and specific EFSA approval grants Kensing commercial exclusivity in Europe. This means that Kensing is currently the exclusive holder of this authorization.

“We are very excited to receive this approval, which allows us to offer an additional source of non-GMO, allergen-free phytosterols that are fully disconnected from deforestation and traceability challenges, providing a sustainable alternative,” said Serge Rogasik, CEO of Kensing. “The EFSA approval confirms that sunflower-derived phytosterols deliver a strong cholesterol-lowering benefit, similar to our other EFSA-approved sterols.”