Chr. Hansen's Laboratory Inc. of Milwaukee and GenencorInternational announced that FDA has affirmed the GRAS(generally recognized as safe) status of Chymogen, a geneticallyengineered version of rennet, the milk coagulating enzymenecessary for producing cheese.

Chymogen contains the enzyme chymosin, which the companiesobtain via controlled fermentation of the yeast Aspergillusniger.

Genencor, of Rochester, N.Y., has been making Chymogen in afood-grade plant in Finland for more than three years. TheFDA's approval of its GRAS status makes it available for usethroughout the U.S. cheese industry.

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