Photosensitization by Chlorella? Watch out!

FEBICO had started to promote the benefits of chlorella and spirulina since 1976, during the prime time when there were more than 300 microalgae manufacturers in Taiwan, and the demand for chlorella was at its highest peak. However in 1978, numerous incidents of photosensitization by taking chlorella have occurred in Japan. People who had taken too much chlorella reported cases of erythema (superficial reddening of the skin caused by dilation of blood capillaries) on the areas exposed to sunlight, which led to local itchiness and ulcer.

Scientists have later found that during the process of improper chlorella manufacturing, a phototoxic substance called pheophorbides, have created and cause damage to the body with the stimulation of sun light. In Europe, similar accidents have occurred among livestock due to over consumption of pheophorbides-contained vegetables and expressed dermatitis on the skin or in some severe cases, death.

Vegetables during storage, manufacture process, or cooking, might convert the chlorophyll structure to pheophorbides, changing the natural green color of leaf to brown. Many consumers were worried about getting sun rashes and stopped taking chlorella 30 years ago. Many factories in Taiwan were forced to shut down due to this unfortunate accident. Fortunately, FEBICO has been following the safety manufacturing and its stringent quality control and in-house manufacturing process, there are no accidents of photosensitization reported from our consumers and the companies we had worked with. Department of Health of Taiwan regulates the amount of total pheophobides to be under 100mg% for spirulina strain and under 80 mg% for chlorella strain. This standard is well established in Taiwan and Japan more than 20 years ago, indicating that Taiwan and Japan have been taken chlorella and spirulina to be healthy for a long period of time. With the emerging supplement markets of chlorella and spirulina, there are several chlorella products currently available on market that has pheophorbides levels 700%~1000% higher than the food safety level. It can very much cause the same photosensitization issue as 30 years ago and should be a precaution to everyone. Consumers shouldn be left in the dark from the past history of chlorella, and it should be the responsibility of the suppliers

Up till now, FEBICO’s chlorella and spirulina are made under Food-GMP and HACCP manufacturing process with ISO22000 standard. FEBICO’s commitment to preserve what’s best in the chlorella and spirulina since 1970s without unnecessary food processing by human or environmental hormones such as heavy metal, chemical waste, or radiation pollution are closely examined by the Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation(Taiwan), Naturland (Germany), and NOP (USDA) annually to certify its 100% organic and naturalness.

About FEBICO:

FEBICO is the only company that produces organic spirulina and chlorella certified by NOP (U.S. National Organic Program) and Naturland, an IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement) accredited organization.
FEBICO’s factory in Ping-Tung (southern Taiwan) produces the high quality microalgae with over 35 years of research and updated production facilities. FEBICO is the only company in the world that uses clean mountain spring water to cultivate microalgae. In Japan, 90% of microalgae is imported from Taiwan. Having 140,000 square meters culture ponds with yearly production of more than 1000 MT of microalgae, FEBICO’s company currently holds the leading position in microalgae sales with Japan in Taiwan.

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