The ingredient will have two names - selling as Kappa K2 MK-7 and ActivK S for DuPont (formerly Danisco). Kappa is the manufacturer and markets the ingredient to food supplements markets, while DuPont takes ActivK S to food markets.
DuPont has a natural vitamin K version that typically sells at higher prices, depending on strength and size of order.
Arne Johan Grimsbo, head of strategy and business development at Kappa, said the Norwegian company had submitted the application in October 2010.
“It was expected to be approved last October but it got stalled in the system so to have it now is significant. We are very excited about this approval,” Grimsbo relayed.
He said customers had been aware of the pending approval and a food supplement was expected on Scandinavian markets, “by the summer”.
“Then we expect further launches at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. We will be making a big push on it at Vitafoods in May.”
Multiple nutrient supplements with calcium and vitamin D3 were in the works with increased bioavailability claims. Vitamin K2 also has a European Food Safety Authority-approved general function health claim for bone health, and evidence suggests heart and skin health benefits.
Spot prices for natural vitamin K2 typically range from €500-€1000 per kilogram for 1000 parts per million versions.
“We are launching Kappa K2 MK-7 at 20-30% below that,” said Grimsbo.
Kappa CEO Egil Greve added: “This now allows food and dietary supplement manufactures to take vitamin K2 from a previous niche application into mainstream application...This is a major achievement for all users of vitamin K2.“
Cost-in-use
DuPont Nutrition & Health vice president of health platforms, Didier Carcano, welcomed another, “high-value product” into its range.
“EU approval of this new, unique form of vitamin K2 creates tremendous opportunities for food and dietary supplement manufacturers to take vitamin K2 into mainstream application due to a better cost-in-use proposition,” Carcano said.
“It opens up new horizons to enhance the health profile of their products and brands, and an important differentiator for our customers also is our scientific, regulatory and global application expertise on vitamin K2.”
DuPont said vitamin K2 was suitable for dairy and bakery products, beverages, cereals, fats and oils, nutritional bars, infant formula as well as dietary supplements.
Kappa’s K2 MK-7 is produced using a synthetic process starting from geraniol and research indicates bioavailability is similar between synthetic and natural versions.