New functional calcium & phosphate ingredient wins HIE award

02-Dec-2010 - Last updated on 13-Mar-2017 at 10:17 GMT

A new soluble calcium phosphate ingredient formulated for acidic clear beverages won an innovation award at the recent Heath Ingredients Europe trade event in Madrid, Spain.

VersaCal allows beverage manufacturers to enrich their products with beneficial nutrients while ensuring optimum taste and stability in the final beverage, claims United States phosphate ingredient producer Innophos.

Containing 15 per cent elemental calcium and 24 per cent phosphorus, VersaCal Clear provides beverage manufacturers with an effective nutrient combination in a free-flowing odourless blend.

Calcium fortification

“Traditionally calcium fortification in clear beverages uses other calcium sources such as lactates, gluconates and citrates which can have a negative impact on flavour and stability in some formulations,” said Joseph Golowski, vice president, Specialty Phosphates. “VersaCal Clear was developed to tackle this problem and provide manufacturers with a soluble source of both calcium and phosphorus which the other products do not provide.”

Golowski described the ingredient as “a significant breakthrough for the functional beverages market.”

Combining calcium and phosphorus in a single, easy-to-use formula, the ingredient boosts the nutritional profile of clear beverages with minimal effect on taste, particularly at higher dosage levels, said the company.

High solubility is said to ensure that clarity and stability in acidic clear beverages are maintained.

Teeth and bones

Calcium and phosphorus are vital to maintain healthy teeth and bones.

Meanwhile, VersaCal won a HiE Excellence Award in the Nutrition for the Young and Old category.

The judges praised VersaCal’s combination of calcium and phosphorus to promote healthy teeth and bones without compromising product taste and stability.

The judges said: “We were inspired by the possibility for beverage manufacturers to create products (with VersaCal Clear) for a target group that really matters by providing calcium and phosphorus that they need to build strong bones.”