He was clutching a sheath of papers with summaries of all the clinical trials that have been done on the substance.
“Colostrum is the first milk produced after a mammal gives birth,” he said. “In our case, it’s the cow’s first milk that we utilise.
It’s been known about for years, and in 1955, a publication about ‘immune milk’ as a food supplement for human rheumatoid arthritis was published. Apparently, it boosts the immune system, and one study has shown that when used in conjunction with chemotherapy in cancer patients, the chemotherapy is more effective. Not only that, but it can help to prevent ‘flu (though possibly not the deadly swine flu that’s threatening to become a pandemic).
This wondrous substance was offered in chocolate bars on the stand, and can be used in virtually any food or beverage products. I declined the offer to try it, as my stomach was feeling a little unsettled, possibly from all the mixtures of samples I had had the previous day!
So, I moved on to the Botanical Products International Ltd stand, where Caricol – a substance made from papaya, and processed in a special way to increase its effects – promised to settle the tum. I have now tried said papaya (a kind of fruit slush composition). Not sure if I feel better yet, but I certainly don’t feel any worse.
Franz Brenner of Botanical Products explained that the papaya in this type of concetration is beneficial for all irritations of the digestive system (constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence – you name it). It’s already sold throughout the world in health food outlets as a finished product in little tubes, but Mr Brenner is hoping to break into the food and beverage market and offer Caricol as a health ingredient.
“The product is pure papaya, but prepared in a similar way to that used in producing Chinese medicine, where mixtures are prepared over many days, until only a sludge is left,” he said. “We’re doing pilot studies now, and will be doing clinical studies in the Autumn.”
Clinical trials are extremely important to customers. I bumped into Dr Andre Teixeira, VP, International R&D at The Campbell Soup Company, who agreed, but he cautioned that the trials had to be correctly conducted. It was interesting to get a visitor’s view of the show, and I asked Dr Teixeira if he found it interesting. “This is the forefront of food development,” he replied. “It’s interesting to see the overlap between pharmacy and grocery store happening, as it did four centuries ago. In London at that time, you would have to go to a chemist’s shop to buy sugar, salt, etc. Food and medicine were sold together.”
“Health ingredients is a good example of the globalisation taking place,” he added. “Opportunities for food solutions of the future are similar all over the world. Weight and stress management, brain health, eye and bone health are all on the agenda. Nowadays, we’re looking for lifestyle solutions, not just what might be ‘good for you’. For example, we at Campbell’s have launched a fruit and vegetable juice in the US, which provides a whole day’s allowance of fruit and vegetables, and contains no sweeteners.”
There were many, many more examples of products for skin health and weight management on show this year. After a slow start, the beauty ingredient market may be on the brink of a revival, if the number of offerings at Vitafoods is anything to go by. For example, SkinActive from PYC Laboratoire has been developed to prevent the signs of ageing. Made from lipowheat (supplied by Hitex, with whom PYC has formed a partnership), it’s said to rehydrate the skin from within.
“Clinical trials have proved that it works after three months’ use,” said Aurelie de Schuyteneer, marketing manager of PYC. “It’s rich in beta carotene, and because it contains beta carotene, it gives a tanned complexion.” Wow, if that really works, I’m going to start taking it now, and not risk the patchy, freckly effect the sun has on my face!
There is yet another product in PYC’s arsenal of anti-ageing potions, Collagen Beauty Booster, which is designed to fight against signs of ageing that have already appeared. This contains peptan, supplied by Rousselot. Again, clinical trials have been conducted in Japan and France that are said to prove that, after three months’ use, the effects can be seen. The substance comes in powder form, and should be mixed with water twice a day.
Of course, we all know that the path to regulatory acceptance isn’t smooth, and it was a delighted Udi Ulroy, VP of Global Marketing & Sales, who greeted me on the Lycored stand with the news that after almost five years, Lycopene is now legally recognised as a fortifier. Previously it was only allowed as a food colour. “Now we can really start to do business,” said Ulroy, “but we have to start right at the beginning.”
All in all, Vitafoods proved to be a good show for the exhibitors. Although many said that the number of visitors to their stands was slightly down on last year, the quality was high. I even heard on one stand, “OK then, we have a deal!”, followed by a firm handshake and a broad smile. That’s what we like to hear these days: evidence of real business being done. A small sign of an upturn in the economy? I certainly hope so.
Vitafoods will be covered in more detail in Food & Beverage International and Dairy Innovation. Subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss all the other exciting developments revealed at the show!
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