Fortitech brings calcium chelate to market
formulators, which it claims can deliver much higher levels of the
mineral.
While most beverages fortified with calcium contain only 25 to 30 percent of the daily recommended allowance of the mineral per 8-oz serving, the new ingredient can supply as much as 50 percent, as was the case in a prototype cappuccino flavored dairy shake that the company presented at the IFT Expo in New Orleans in July.
It is also said to have had no chalky taste, gritty mouthfeel or precipitation, and the calcium did not settle to the bottom.
Settling has been identified as a problem in calcium fortified beverages. In a study published in Nutrition Today in February, Dr Robert Heaney of Creighton University concluded that the calcium actually available in some soy and rice drinks can be as much as 85 percent lower than the amount on the product label, owing to the mineral settling at the bottom of the pack.
Although recognized as the premix leader, Fortitech is currently positioning itself as more than just a supplier: rather, it wants to be seen as an R&D partner and consultant on every stage of product development.
A company spokesperson told NutraIngredients-USA.com that the calcium chelate launch is worldwide and is the company's first calcium offering.
Calcium is known to help build healthy bones and teeth, and prevent osteoporosis, a brittle bone disease that can affect older women. It is also believed to play a role in the normal clotting of blood, the transmission of nerve impulses, enzyme regulation, insulin secretion and muscle function regulation.
The recommended daily intake of calcium is 1300mg for teenagers, between 1000 to 1200mg for adults and up to 1500mg for postmenopausal women, the group most at risk of osteoporosis.
