FDA Grants Blue California’s L-Theanine GRAS Status

FDA has confirmed Blue California’s (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) L-TeaActive l-theanine ingredient as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in food and beverages.

L-theanine, an amino acid sourced from green tea, is said to provide relaxation benefits. The company says that numerous clinical studies on green tea and l-theanine have shown that the ingredient stimulates production of alpha brain waves, increasing mental and physical relaxation, without causing drowsiness. Other studies, it says, have shown that a combination of l-theanine and caffeine may work synergistically to benefit cognitive function and mood.

L-TeaActive is standardized to 98% and is produced from green tea leaves and other natural ingredients using a proprietary manufacturing process that the company says ensures high purity, lower cost, efficacy, and safety.

“We are very pleased with the FDA’s GRAS confirmation for our product,” says Cecilia McCollum, Blue California’s executive vice president. “Our goal was to set a new standard for purity for natural l-theanine derived from green tea, and we have achieved it.”