Category: Ingredients
Digestive enzymes
Products classified as digestive enzymes help facilitate digestion, the absorption of nutrients, maintenance of proper pH in the gastrointestinal tract, and act as a barrier against invasion of pathological organisms. Even though there is a lack of scientific research to verify the effectiveness of digestive enzymes, these products have become quite well-accepted and are commonly used. KEEP READING >>
Amino acids
Amino acids are components of protein that are recognized as building blocks of the body. They function in building cells and repairing tissue, and they help fight bacteria and viruses. They are part of the enzyme and hormonal system, contribute to building nucleoproteins and play an important role in respiration and muscle activity. For these reasons, many of Fortitech’s customers have requested premixes containing amino acids. Due to stability issues with amino acids, Fortitech develops custom formulations taking all processing parameters into consideration. KEEP READING >>
Relieving stress with L-Theanine
Relaxation drinks are coming more and more into consumer focus, and among their key ingredients is L-theanine. Creating an optimal anti-stress product involves more than just designing the best packaging or picking the right logo. In the end, it’s going to be what’s inside the product that counts. KEEP READING >>
WebMD helps consumers sort information on omega-3 fatty acids and fish
Having more information about nutrition than you know what to do with is a good problem to have. (It sure beats having nothing to work with!) However, it can still be overwhelming. Take the amount of consumer-oriented, product-centered and scientific-based information about omega-3’s. What are they? Why are they beneficial? What are the safest sources? KEEP READING >>
Ginger supplements seem to reduce inflammation in the intestines
Although more study is needed, early indications in a study funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute are that ginger supplements seem to reduce inflammation in the intestines. This may point to other applications for the herb, which is well-accepted as a treatment for nausea and vomiting The report, published in Cancer Prevention Research and picked up by many outlets including WebMD and HealthDay, describes human trials that confirm what scientists previously discovered in animal research – compared to placebo, individuals on ginger supplements had 28 percent less intestinal inflammation. Since the study is only preliminary (involving a small group of 30 individuals), researchers caution broad interpretation of its results, saying more investigation is required. KEEP READING >>
Yes, organic food can be fortified
There’s a lot of consumer confusion about food terms like organic, natural and processed. We were so pleased to see this very thoughtful article – “Should organic food be fortified?” – from Kiwi Magazine about organic food fortification. The post explains issues related both to public health policies about essential nutrients and to guidelines for labeling of food organic or natural even when it contains added nutrients. KEEP READING >>
Fiber, whole grain and protein most sought health ingredients in fortified foods
More consumers are proactively seeking “healthful ingredients,” such as fiber, whole grain and protein, according to Shopping for Health 2011, a study conducted annually by Food Marketing Institute and Prevention Magazine. Representing a shift in focus away from products that skip the bad stuff toward food and beverages fortified with nutrients, consumers are looking for foods that contain ingredients they’ve heard about in the news or via marketing campaigns. KEEP READING >>
Making something taste good and making it good for you can be tough
We read an article at Food Navigator last week about the complex nature of taste (There’s more to taste than flavour). The post’s author, Mark Rigby, writes, “Taste is not just about the flavour, it's a combination of the flavour, texture and aroma. It's about bringing the senses together and, at that one moment, creating an experience that's perfect for that particular occasion.” While Mark was not able to share the exact processes involved with his new product, he discussed the importance of encapsulation techniques and particle size for contributing to a “luxurious mouthfeel.” Fortitech has some expertise in this area, and while some of our processes are trade secrets, too, we were pleased to be able to comment and share some interesting considerations about ingredient selection when producing fortified foods that taste good – in all aspects, including those related to feel and smell. After we commented, we realized our contribution to the conversation would make a good blog post, too. KEEP READING >>
Blending techniques: Supplier solutions to formulation challenges benefit food and beverage manufacturers
Prepared Foods’ NUTRASolutions (which is now offering some original – and insightful! – articles) featured a post recently by Dr. Tammy Crowe about formulation challenges in foods. Dr. Crowe asks the right questions and points out some of the difficulties in product development when bioactives are involved. As a supplier, Fortitech has faced – and solved – many formulation challenges, and our learnings benefit our customers in the food and beverage industry. Since we produce custom premixes to manufacturers, Fortitech has developed particular expertise in blending nutrients and other bioactives. Blending and processing techniques can make the difference between a reliable, high-quality, homogenous, shelf-stable nutrient premix and an inferior one that may cause poor consumer confidence, potential regulatory issues or recall situations. KEEP READING >>
Why Prebiotics Need To Be Included With Probiotics in Food
There is substantial and growing interest in the development of innovative new products directed at different segments of the gut health market. A premix fortification approach can help manufacturers develop new and innovative gut health products specifically tailored to the needs and desires of different populations. KEEP READING >>