A new functional beverage fortified with ‘super-broccoli’ could be on the market by this time next year, the company behind the Sirco heart-health drink has claimed.
Provexis, which was formed from the reverse takeover of Provexis by Nutrinnovator, earlier this year, is working on a clutch of new products in collaboration with leading research institutes, said commercial director Stephen Moon.
One of the most exciting tie-ups is with seed company Seminis to develop drinks with an active broccoli extract that is shown to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, he said.
“There is a wealth of scientific data showing the health benefits of an ingredient in vegetables like broccoli and spinach called glucosinolate, which can significantly reduce the risk of cancers of the breast, prostate and intestines. Research institutes have spent 12 years on a breeding programme for broccoli to develop strains that contain 10-times the standard level of glucosinolate, he said. “We’re working with Seminis to extract the glucosinolate from the broccoli and introduce it to drinks.
“It’s early days, but we’re aiming to have a prototype ready early in the new year. This is very exciting as all the research shows that consumers are very interested in functional foods from natural sources. This could be a big opportunity.”
Separately, the company is working on omega-3-enhanced products and foods containing a plantain extract targeted at people with Crohn’s disease.
He said: “We are just about to embark on an 18-month trial to establish the clinical efficacy of the product.”
The company’s Altú range of fruit-based cereal bars was not performing as well as he had hoped, admitted Moon. “The market is extremely competitive. However, the product is nutritionally very sound. We’re looking at several things as part of a review of the product. One option would be to add functional ingredients to it.”