Cargill launches joint health beverage
concerned about joint health at the Institute of Food
Technologists' 2004 Annual Meeting, which opened today in Las
Vegas.
The joint health beverage JointWise is made with OptaFlex natural chondroitin - researchers have suggested that taking chondroitin sulphate supplements over short periods significantly relieved pain and improved mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Joint pain is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the US.
"The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that by the year 2020 about 60 million people will be affected by arthritis," said Ted Ziemann, president of Cargill Health and Food Technologies (H&FT).
Cargill's OptaFlex natural chondroitin has been affirmed as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) and is a natural form of chondroitin sulfate that is produced from a water-based process.
"Beverages, such as JointWise offer an alternative for those who prefer consuming beverages to taking pills," said Lee Knudson, product manager at Cargill H&FT.
Cargill hopes that the time is now ripe for this product as consumers become more aware and more accepting of functional foods and berevages.
