Red yeast rice is a bright reddish purple fermented rice, which acquires its color from being cultivated with the mold Monascus purpureus. In addition to its culinary use, red yeast rice is also used in Chinese herbology and Traditional Chinese medicine. Its use has been documented as far back as the Tang Dynasty in China in AD 800.

Red Rice Monacolines

The red yeast rice contains monacolins, natural statins useful in the control of cholesterol and in the prevention of some degenerative diseases. Since the 1970s, red yeast rice has been used in various food supplements and products.

European restrictions on the use of monacolins from red yeast rice

In May 2021, the European Food Safety Authority has adopted a scientific opinion on the safety of monacolins in red yeast rice following reports of adverse effects linked to the use of products containing such rice. Based on this scientific opinion, the EU proposes to restrict the use of monacolins from red yeast rice to ensure this substance is used safely in foods and food supplements.

In order to meet the limitations on the use of monacolins in food products Vivatis has developed RRM, a new natural ingredient capable of fully satisfying the new regulatory specifications.