Selenium yeast was approved for use in foods, supplements and for foods with particular nutritional use in the EU. The approval was largely a result of the Danish company, Lallemand Health Ingredients' work in documenting selenium's bioavailability and safe use.

"This is extremely positive news for formulators across Europe," said Nicolai Jensen, Lallemand's general manager. "In recent years, we have seen some reluctance to use yeast as a selenium source due to regulatory concerns. However the path is now open for formulating with the most natural and bioavailable supplemental form of selenium available."

The panel noted that yeast with high levels of organically bound selenium, like that of Lalmin Se, is twice as bioavailable as selenite or selenate, which are classified as inorganic forms of selenium. In response to the EFSA decision, Paul Willis, CEO of Cypress Systems said, "We fully embrace the decision of EFSA to recognize high-selenium yeast as a safe form of organically bound selenium in foods and supplements. The foundational principal of selenium yeast is that it is the natural-food form of organically bound selenium. The yeast fully replicates the natural process that plants go through in the uptake of minerals into their protein structure."

Cypress Systems has applied for the EU equivalent of the EFSA decision, FDA approval for Generally Recognized as Safe status for its selenium yeast product, Selleno Excell.