Fuji to Double AstaREAL Production

TOYAMA, JapanFuji Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. will double its production capacity for AstaREAL, natural astaxanthin, at its wholly owned subsidiary, BioReal AB in Gustavsberg, Sweden. The Swedish facility is an in-door operation housing fully enclosed bioreactors operated under controlled conditions. The operation is ISO9001:2008 and also certified and complies with HACCP and GMP (good manufacturing practices).

Mitsunori Nishida, president and CEO of Fuji Chemical said, "This is an exciting decision for Fuji because it is yet another step forward in our quest to establish AstaREAL astaxanthin as the premier supplement of the future."

Ake Lignell, general manager of BioReal said, This expansion will allow us to further optimize the use of our resources and to establish Fuji as the most reliable supplier of natural astaxanthin who can quickly respond to the needs of the market."

The company said the decision to expand capacity is in response to the increased demand for AstaREAL worldwide. The growing body of science supporting AstaREAL's positive effects on health along with other factors such as the recognition of AstaREAL as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in the United States last year have contributed to the growth of the market.

The expansion at BioReal is in line with Fuji´s decision to focus its astaxanthin production in Sweden, according to the company.

BioReal has been in operation since 1994 as a global commercial producer of natural astaxanthin based on the cultivation of the alga, Haematococcus pluvialis.

Fuji has sponsored 50 published astaxanthin studies to date, demonstrating efficacy in areas such as eye fatigue, cardiovascular health, muscle endurance and skin health.

AstaREAL is approved for use in nutritional products in the United States, Europe and Japan as well as other markets worldwide. Fuji also holds patents in application areas such as muscle endurance, gastric health and the immune system.