EDISON, NJ. — AAK’s shea stearin has been determined safe to use as a source of fat in various foods within specified maximum use levels by the US Food and Drug administration. AAK received a “no questions” letter from the FDA in response to its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification for the shea stearin.

AAK said this is the first expanded use of shea stearin in new food categories since 1998.

“As a versatile plant-based fat, shea stearin can be utilized in various applications, from bakery items and confectionery fillings to nut and seed spreads, margarine, plant-based foods and more,” said Octavio Díaz de León Carrillo, president of AAK USA, Inc. and vice president of AAK AB. “We see tremendous opportunity in creating functional food products that consumers will purchase, particularly within the popular segments of plant-based meat and poultry and plant-based dairy alternatives.”