Innovations at Vitafoods

As industry executives draw up their schedules for the forthcoming Vitafoods show, a number of companies are trailing the innovations they will be unveiling in Geneva.

Much of the innovation will be centered on the New Products Zone. Amongst the companies exhibiting here will be Seah International, with a new range of O2P (oil to powder) products.

BioSerae is extending its weight management offerings, following on from the success of NeOpuntia which was introduced to high acclaim two years ago. Two new weight management ingredients in the category are derived from the Opuntia-ficus-indica cactus, grown in the Mediterranean.

Moreover the company's new ID'alG, from brown algae, also offers weight management benefits (inhibition of digestive enzymes and activation of thermogenesis) and is also a natural source of vital nutrients.

AMC Chemicals will be launching Oryzatein - a source of whole grain protein from brown rice that is said to have a "wide application base in the nutraceutical and functional food and drink industries".

AMC is holding a seminar at the show to inform the industry about Oryzatein.

Hong Kong-based TCH Co will be promoting its new Momordicine balsam pear supplement for type II diabetes patients, which has been shown to effectively lower blood sugar levels.

Product manager Petula Tse said: "During the manufacturing process, our proprietary 'cell membrane rupture with vacuum airflow' technology ensures that the product not only has a sharp luster but also dissolves readily and retains the raw ingredient's original colour and smell, thereby preserving the nutrients of the original fruit or vegetable in the process."

She added that the company's technology is also suitable for processing other raw materials, ingredients and additives needed in industries such as food, drink, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Nordic Koivu (formally known as Aurinkoletho Ltd) has developed a new birch sap purification a bottling system which it says will help boost commercial availability. In the past, "primitive" collection and bottling methods and the sap's perishable nature have meant that only limited amounts have been available to industry.

Algatechnologies will be introducing a new addition to its AstaPure astaxanthin line - an advanced from of vegetarian astaxanthin beadlets.

Solbar is also unveiling a line extension with a new soy extract, Saponin 25. Suitable for use in dietary supplements, it has a minimum concentration of 25 per cent soy saponins and can be used in dietary supplements.

LycoRed will be showcasing its recently expanded full range of carotenoids suitable for dietary supplements - lutein, astaxanthin, lycopene and zeaxanthin. Moreover, its newly-announced co-beadlet technology allows for the combination of natural or nature-identical carotenoids into a single formulation that is over 20 per cent carotenoids by weight.

NutraIngredients.com will be attending Vitafoods. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a meeting or send us your news in advance.