Italian fruit processor Iprona has developed a new strain of strawberry that provides up to six times as many polyphenols and 18 times as many anthocyanins as commercially grown strawberries.
The Nerina strawberry, which will be marketed under Iprona’s BerryPharma brand, is packed with antioxidants and is bred from wild strawberries. But its uniquely dark – almost black – colour could significantly diminish its on-shelf appeal, which is why Iprona is only offering the ingredient to food manufacturers and formulators in water-soluble powder and liquid formats, and not as a whole in punnets to consumers.
Whereas strawberries are usually bred for their sweetness, size, resistance to disease and rapid growth properties, the Nerina strawberry is grown for its nutritional value and high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants and polyphenols. The Nerina extract produced by Iprona “is the result of an innovative… membrane extraction technology, used to standardise the nutritionally active compounds, natural flavours and aromas in the fruit,” the Italian firm said.
The term “Nerina” is derived from the Italian word for black – nero – and the diminutive “–ina”.
BerryPharma science advisor Akam Anyangwe added: “This breakthrough strawberry is an innovative product and is the result of years of research and selective cross-breeding by Iprona, aimed at recreating the original wild forest strawberry while also maximising its antioxidant capability and other health-bringing phytonutrients.
“Nerina has been propagated for companies looking to research and develop products for healthier living, as well as reducing cardiovascular and type-2 diabetes risks. We have used a traditional form of selective cross-breeding to establish this outstanding source of nutrition.”
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