Renaissance BioScience, a global bioengineering company, has received new patent allowances and grants for its non-GMO acrylamide-reducing yeast (ARY) from regulatory authorities in China, Russia, India, Australia and Vietnam. These five new ARY patent grants and allowances join previously issued patents from the U.S., Japan, Indonesia, Chile and Colombia, with patents pending in multiple additional markets.  

“As an intellectual property-focused company we are pleased to receive the new patent grants and allowances in the major markets of China, Russia, India, Australia and Vietnam. These new patents join those already granted or pending in other major markets around the world, to protect the use of our acrylamide-reducing yeast in many different and important food manufacturing applications," says Renaissance BioScience CEO and CSO, Dr. John Husnik,

He adds, “Acrylamide is a carcinogen of global concern—especially for children, who tend to consume more than adults due to their daily diet of many common foods that unfortunately contain this carcinogen (crackers, bread, cookies, cereals and the like). We are especially pleased that our acrylamide-reducing yeast is finding acceptance and being commercialized by food manufacturers in markets all around the world with a mandate to reduce the presence of this contaminant in their products.”

About Renaissance Acrylamide-Reducing-Yeast (ARY)

Using adaptive evolution engineering techniques to develop a non-GMO asparagine-reducing yeast, Renaissance is significantly contributing to the important efforts by food regulatory bodies and food manufacturers globally to reduce the formation of acrylamide in everyday and commonly consumed cooked foods.  

In food manufacturing Renaissance acrylamide-reducing yeast is added during the standard manufacturing processing stage, where it immediately begins to consume asparagine and quickly reduces the potential for acrylamide formation when the mixture is later cooked above 120°C (248°F). The Renaissance ARY technology has been licensed globally and is available to assist food manufacturers in reducing the acrylamide content of their products in markets around the world. 

About Acrylamide 

Asparagine, a naturally occurring precursor amino acid found in many carbohydrate-rich food sources—including rice, grains and potatoes—converts to the carcinogen acrylamide with the application of heat during the cooking process. Acrylamide forms once the cooking (baking, frying, roasting and toasting) temperature reaches 120°C (248°F) and above and continues to form until either all the asparagine has been converted or cooking has been completed and the temperature drops below 120°C.  

In addition to acrylamide formation in the creation of processed foods at the manufacturing level, further cooking at home can restart acrylamide formation, and that is why consumers are advised not to cook their toast or French fries too dark; quite simply, the longer cooking allows more acrylamide to be generated. When food manufacturers use ARY, it allows consumers to enjoy their traditional cooking methods with less concern about acrylamide formation and the negative health problems potentially created. 

Acrylamide was first discovered to be widespread in many different foods worldwide in the early 2000s. Since then, a number of global regulatory bodies have moved to monitor, regulate and issue warnings of its presence in foods and beverages as a public health issue.