The Minnesota-based nutraceutical ingredient supplier is looking to access markets in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario in Canada, based on increased demand for healthy ingredients for products that are in turn sold to the United States. "We are highly involved in product development in the bakery, cereal/snack, dairy, nutritional bar and beverage categories in Canada and our customers are requesting innovative functional ingredients that promote health and wellness, and that also offer compelling consumer claims," said Steve Johnston, business development manager with C.K. Foods. Part of the impetus behind selling the ingredients in Canada is so that formulators manufacturing in that country, but marketing the products in the US, can take advantage of the healthy potential of these ingredients. In the United States, foods that contain at least 0.75 grams per serving of barley beta-glucan soluble fiber are permitted to use the US Food & Drug Administration's soluble fiber health claim for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Glucagel also has a number of applications and is sold to support cardiovascular health, immune health, blood glucose and insulin response as well as weight management. C.K. Foods distributes value-added raw materials to Canadian food, beverage and human nutrition markets.
