Jan Dekker stake claim as antioxidant all-rounder
into the nutritional supplements market with the launch of a new
range of natural ingredients at HiE 2002 yesterday.
Dutch food ingredients company Jan Dekker announced its first foray into the nutritional supplements market with the launch of a new range of natural ingredients at HiE 2002 yesterday.
The Nutroxi range which includes grape polyphenols, lycopene, lutein, green tea extracts, isoflavones and gingko biloba, all have antioxidant properties and are designed for use in functional foods and supplements. The company, which also has a cosmetic ingredients unit, said the new health ingredients were part of its aim to hold the position of 'all-round antioxidant experts.'
"A lot of epidemiological studies have been published showing the benefits of fruit and vegetables but in the Western diet there is still a very low intake. Only about 10 per cent of the population consumes the recommended dose," said Henk Zwier, manager of the Nutrition unit at Jan Dekker.
"Jan Dekker has been involved in food ingredients for more than 100 years and one of our key activities was antioxidants for food preservation so it was a logical step to move into nutrition," he added.
The company will focus marketing activities on Europe. "If you compare Europe to the US, there is still big growth potential," said Zwier. However he added that legislation issues in Europe remained a threat to successful business.
Zwier said that the company would also be watching the trend for natural ingredients in cosmetics, an area that would fit with its core businesses.
