Burgundy launches spinach extract
Its spincah extract, Spineol, registered the interest of about 30 food supplements companies at the Vitafoods trade show in Geneva in May, where it was launched.
Gontran Gaillot, sales manager for Burgundy, told NutraIngredients.com the ingredient had been produced only today at commercial levels for the first time and research was ongoing into its health benefits.
The sports nutrition and muscle recovery markets (including muscle fatigue in the elderly) were being targeted, and an in vivo study investigating the extracts ability to deliver in this area was due for completion by August or September.
It does this by delaying the formation of hypoxy metabolites in muscles.
“We hope to have the results of this study ready for presentation at Supply Side West in mid-November,” Gaillot said.
Spineol is produced from fresh or frozen spinach as testing has revealed extracts were more potent than those derived from dried spinach. Regular fresh spinach is employed.
“At Vitafoods we had some negative comments because some people don’t think spinach has a very good taste, but we have an extract that is being used in supplements so taste is not really an issue,” Gaillot observed.
Green initiatives
He wouldn’t disclose pricing details but noted the ingredient would be produced in conjunction with Burgundy’s environmental programme, on which it recently spent €800,000.
That investment means Burgundy treats all effluents on site and adds to previous commitments to use food-grade and recyclable solvents, pre-treat vegetal residues and use minimal “city water”.
“More and more customers are enquiring about green credentials and we have always had green production in our vision so this investment was a natural step for us,” Gaillot said.
He said industry-wide progress in the area of environmentally sound production was being hampered by European Union hygiene regulation laws that were neither strict or clear enough.
Devil’s Claw in Germany
The company’s Devil’s Claw, joint health ingredient, Iridoforce, has received a boost in Germany as it can be now be used in food supplements in doses up to 40 times higher than previously allowed.
Austria, Spain and Italy have also been liberalised, Gaillot said.
Burgundy has a turnover of about €16m. It purchased the herbal extracts division of Cognis in March for undisclosed sum.
