New Zealand dairy brand Anchor has developed two new healthy milks, targeting heart disease and osteoporosis, to meet growing consumer interest in disease prevention.
Fortified beverages are one of the most popular and readily accepted functional foods. Adding nutrients to milk's already 'healthy' image has been an obvious area of innovation for dairy companies looking to add value to product lines.
Anchor's Heart Wise is a low-cholesterol, low-fat milk fortified with omega-3 fatty acids to help maintain heart health. The product is also approved by New Zealand's National Heart Foundation and carries the tick.
Milk with added omega-3 is likely to become a growing category on dairy shelves as dairy firms confirm their health profile. In Canada, Natrel recently announced the launch of an omega-3 enriched milk and this trend is likely to follow in Europe.
Mega Milk contains added calcium and vitamins A and D to improve calcium absorption. It is also 97.5 per cent fat free, according to the company. It is being targeted at children and teenagers, the key age groups for healthy bone development.
Both Anchor products are available in 1-litre tetra packs and Mega Milk is also available in 300ml singles serve portions and 2-litre bottles.