Dairy Processing - May/June 2023 - 42

FORMULATION
Less-known nutrients gaining
traction in functional food development
include botanicals (think lavender for
relaxation). Some botanicals are described
as adaptogens, a class of non-toxic herbs,
mushrooms and minerals known to boost
the immune system and help the body fight
off the effects of stress. These plant-based
compounds have been used for centuries in
Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions.
Ginseng, for example, is said to regulate the
body's response to physical or mental stress.
Another class of botanicals is nootropics.
This term has the Greek translation of " towards the mind "
and refers to compounds that directly or indirectly influence
cognitive brain function. Examples include ashwagandha,
citicoline and green tea extract.
Many dairy products are
positioned as being good sources
of calcium for bone health. "
Kate Leahy, Sunsweet Ingredients
" While the functionality (of the top-tier ingredients)
may be a known added benefit, they may not always be
the intentional catalyst to consumption, " said Doug Resh,
director, commercial marketing, T. Hasegawa USA, Cerritos,
Calif. " Yet these subliminal added benefits can distinguish a
brand from its competitors. This is a valuable status to secure,
and it can come through education and efficacy grounded in
scientific validity, but do not discount the impact of taste. "
Conversely, nascent functional
ingredients, like prebiotics, melatonin
or adaptogens, may be sought out
for their benefits among their niche
audiences, he added.
A number of fruit-based ingredients
are gaining traction for their functional
benefits. FutureCeuticals, Momence, Ill.,
for example, now offers an ingredient that
contains 50% soluble and insoluble dietary fiber
from upcycled apples, carrots, blueberries,
cranberries and spinach. The ingredient delivers
plant-based, intact dietary fiber and polyphenols
to the gut. The fiber-bound polyphenols, once inside the gut, are
released slowly and act as antioxidants to promote gut health.
Prune is a flavor of yogurt and drinkable yogurt that never
caught on in the US, despite being very popular in Europe
and Asia. Besides assisting with digestive health, one of the
most compelling reasons to eat prunes is to increase bone
density and stave off bone loss, according to Kate Leahy,
spokesperson, Sunsweet Ingredients, Yuba City, Calif.
In October 2022, the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition released a study finding that postmenopausal
women who ate 50 grams of prunes a day staved off bone
loss. While the exact mechanism for how prunes impact bone
density is not fully understood, researchers theorize that the
combination of boron and other minerals in prunes, paired
with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, may
suppress bone reabsorption at the cellular level.
" Many dairy products are positioned as being good
sources of calcium for bone health, " said Leahy. " Prunes can
also play a role in boosting bone health, so a prune yogurt
or prune kefir product could provide an extra nutritional
function for consumers. "
Postbiotics are a new category in the
functional ingredient space. They do
away with the need to add probiotics by
being the healthy metabolites that the
microbiome produce, the compounds that
possess the actual health benefit. This
includes an array of enzymes, peptides,
organic acids, fatty acids and more. Cargill,
Minneapolis, offers a postbiotic derived
from the fermentation of baker's yeast.
" As shown through our stability testing,
our postbiotic is highly heat stable, can
Wonder Monday keto-friendly, high
protein mini cheesecakes shown at the
Winter Fancy Food Show, Las Vegas.
42 MAY-JUN 2023 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Nightfood, Inc., Donna Berry
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - May/June 2023

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