An innovative way of tackling child obesity by replacing high-calorie ingredients with apple pomace has won financial backing from the Welsh Government and Innovate UK.
Using pomace, a by-product of apple juice and cider production, a consortium led by food technology specialist Pennotec aimed to develop an ingredient that could reduce levels of sugar and saturated fat in a range of popular foods.
The consortium also included Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre, Coleg Menai’s Food Technology Centre and Cork company CyberColloids.
It has been awarded £350,000 of research and development funding from the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Division and Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative.
‘Ingredient with functional fibres’
Pennotec managing director Dr Jonathan Hughes (pictured left) said: “We are using Welsh apple pomace as a food ingredient with functional fibres.
“These can improve the nutritional composition of foods that are particularly enjoyed by children while reducing cost.”
Bangor University’s Dr Adam Charlton (pictured right) added: “Wales generates thousands of tonnes of surplus fresh food that never makes it to the supermarket shelves.
“We are targeting the potential of apple pomace to provide texture for food instead of high-calorie ingredients such as fat.”