Apple extracts offer antioxidant promise

Apple cracking specialist Val de Vire Bioactives has developed a natural antioxidant extract for the functional beverages market.

Pomactiv One is a natural cider apple extract with low sensory impact and high solubility, that can be easily incorporated into beverages, claims the firm.

The Normandy-based company hopes the product will prove popular amongst manufacturers looking to add antioxidants to their products whilst avoiding colour or taste changes.

We are targeting the beverages market this year because a lot of existing antioxidant products give colours and bad taste to beverages,” said Val de Vire Bioactives spokesperson Sophie de Reynal. “This new ingredient focuses on enriching antioxidants without giving a bad taste.”

Green and natural

Val de Vire Bioactives said that similar to its other products, Pomactiv One is totally natural and produced from locally sourced apples.

“We are situated right in the heart of Normandy’s apple producing region and we only source apples from local producers, so our products have a low carbon footprint,” said de Reynal.

Organics

In a bid to capture the organic market, Val de Vire Bioactives has also developed organic versions of its cider apple extract range, which have been certified by French-based certifier Ecocert.

The new products will be available across Europe and in Japan. They will be showcased at the Food Ingredients Europe (FIE) 2009 trade show, that will take place in Frankfurt in November.

Val de Vire Bioactives will also be promoting its new analysis service at FIE. The service provides manufacturers with information about the levels of carbohydrates, dietary fibre and antioxidants in their end products.

Val de Vire Bioactives has the technology to establish the nutritional profile of its own products, and is now offering that service to food and beverage manufacturers,” added de Reynal.