1.
What are the
benefits and advantages to my company of adding minerals to our food products?
- What
are the benefits to the consumer of buying a mineral-fortified food
product?
Calcium
Magnesium
Iron
Zinc
Potassium
Copper
Manganese
3. What is the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of the
various minerals?
4. How much must be added to my product in order to
achieve a certain percentage of the RDI per serving?
5. In which products can mineral lactates and
gluconates be used?
6. How are mineral lactates and gluconates produced,
and are lactates related to milk?
7. What is the solubility of PURAC mineral sources?
8. What is the bioavailability of PURAC mineral
sources?
- What is the regulatory status of mineral lactates and
gluconates?
- Are mineral lactates and gluconates allergen-free (e.g.
lactose-free) and non-GMO?
1. What are the benefits and advantages to my company of
adding minerals to our food products?
More and more consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of fortified
food products. Consumers interested in value-added functional foods are
generally willing to pay more for a product that provides them with certain
health benefits. Therefore, a price premium can be justified for those
products, although large margins generally cannot be maintained by one mineral
alone. When the price premium is not very large, a growth in the market share
is a realistic goal.
2. What are the benefits to the consumer of buying a
mineral-fortified food product?
In general terms, it can be said that, from a nutritional viewpoint, a balanced
diet requires no additional fortification. However, many consumer groups do not
meet the Recommended Daily Intakes (or their equivalents) and are looking for
alternative ways to compensate for this. They are increasingly becoming
interested in and aware of their body’s need for minerals and the function of
those minerals in the human body.
Calcium is an important mineral for developing and maintaining
strong bones and teeth. Because the consumption of dairy products that
naturally contain high calcium levels is too low in certain countries or among
certain at-risk groups (e.g. the elderly, young children and teenagers,
pregnant and lactating women and athletes), the daily intake of calcium may be
structurally too low, which can cause osteoporosis in later life. Osteoporosis
is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of
bone tissue. This leads to bone fragility and increased susceptibility to
fractures. Foods such as fruit juices and other beverages containing (extra)
calcium offer the consumer the possibility of ensuring a sufficient calcium
intake and building and maintaining strong bones and teeth.
The function of magnesium in the body
is gradually being better understood. As a bone mineral, it plays an important
role in the process of bone formation, together with calcium. Several studies
have concluded that the optimal Ca:Mg ratio for good bone structure is 2:1.
Another very important function of magnesium is its influence on the nerves and
muscles. Muscle cramps during exercise, sleep problems, poor concentration and
symptoms of stress can all be due to a low concentration of magnesium in the
blood.
The human body needs iron to transport oxygen in the
blood. Insufficient intake of iron may result in anemia, with symptoms such as
fatigue, dizziness and a general feeling of weakness. Children, young girls,
pregnant women, and vegetarians are particularly susceptible and may benefit
from iron-fortified products or tablets.
Zinc is very effective in maintaining a healthy immune system.
Several studies have shown that zinc gluconate lozenges can lower the incidence
and severity of symptoms associated with the common cold. Examples of foods
fortified with zinc, other than lozenges, are sport drinks, juices, infant
formulas and baby foods.
Together with sodium, potassium regulates the
water balance in the human body, and with calcium, potassium is involved in
neuromuscular activity. The muscles include not only the skeletal muscles, but
also the heart muscle and the muscle cells in the blood vessel walls.
Increasing your potassium intake and lowering your sodium intake may reduce the
risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and strokes.
Copper is an important trace mineral for fetal growth and (brain)
development. In addition, it is a cofactor of several enzymes in the human
body, helps to prevent anemia and is required for the correct functioning of
the host defense system.
Manganese is a component
of certain enzymes in the human body, is active in protein and energy
production, plays a role in preventing osteoporosis, and acts as an
antioxidant.
3. What is the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of the
various minerals?
The RDI for each mineral is different in each region / country, depending on
the advice of the government food nutrition institutes. The table below is an
overview of the RDI ranges in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the USA.
Recommended daily intake (mg)
1 400 India;
1000 New Zealand/Australia
2 General
recommendation, no RDI has been officially established
4. How much must be added to my product in order
to achieve a certain percentage of the RDI per serving?
Health claims on packaging must comply with local regulations. These
regulations state what the mineral addition level (% of RDI or equivalent per
serving) in the end-product must be in order to make a certain claim. In most
countries, the minimum addition level is 15% of the RDI per serving. The table
below shows the amount of PURAC mineral sources needed to reach this 15%
requirement.
* RDI in USA
(Ca: 1000 mg, Mg: 400 mg, Fe: 18 mg, Zn: 15 mg, P: 3500 mg, Cu: 2 mg, Mn: 5mg)
Calculation example for PURACAL PP:
- The USA RDI for calcium is 1000 mg of
calcium.
- 15% of the USA RDI per serving = 150 mg
of calcium per serving = 0.15
g of calcium per serving
- PURACAL PP contains 14% calcium
- To add 0.15
g per serving, you need to add (0.15/14) * 100 mg of
PURACAL PP = 1.07
g of PURACAL PP per serving
Use the mineral calculator to determine
the required amount of mineral lactate or gluconate in your batch.
5. In which products can
mineral lactates and gluconates be used?
Technically, mineral lactates and gluconates can be added to all types of
foods. However, certain regulatory restrictions apply in each country (see question 9). Since mineral
lactates and gluconates are sufficiently soluble and have a neutral taste and
mouthfeel compared to other mineral sources, they can easily be used in a wide
range of foods. PURACAL XP calcium sources are specially developed for
calcium fortification of products requiring high solubility during processing
or in the end-product.
6. How are mineral lactates and gluconates produced, and
are lactates related to milk?
Gluconates and lactates are natural products. A carbohydrate source is
fermented together with mineral sources using our selected bacteria strain.
Production is based on renewable resources an example of PURAC's concern for
the environment.
Because lactic acid (officially known as 2-hydroxy propionic acid) was first discovered
in 1780 by the Swedish chemist Scheele in a sample of spoiled milk, it was
named lactic acid. There is no other relation to milk and PURAC L(+)-lactic
acid and its mineral lactates.
7. What is the solubility of PURAC mineral sources?
The solubility of minerals is always related to temperature and pH. The
solubility of mineral lactates and gluconates at pH=7 and 25°C/77°F is shown in
the table below. At a lower pH and/or higher temperature, their solubility
increases.
8. What is the bioavailability of PURAC mineral sources?
Bioavailability is the fraction of the ingested nutrient that is absorbed and
utilized for normal physiological functions or storage. The main determinant of
the bioavailability of a mineral is absorption into the blood
(bioaccessibility).
Several in vivo and in vitro studies have shown mineral lactates and gluconates
to be highly bioavailable mineral sources.
For more details
of the in vivo calcium bioavailability study by the TNO Nutrition and Food
Research Institute, see calcium bioavailability.
9. What is the regulatory status of mineral lactates
and gluconates?
Different regulations for permitted ingredient / application combinations apply
in each region. For more detailed information, country-specific legislative
regulations must be studied. The following schema gives an overview of regional
legislation in general:
|
North & Latin America
- Mineral fortification
is generally approved
- Government (FDA) supports health claims on functional foods
- Calcium lactate and gluconate, ferrous lactate and gluconate,
zinc gluconate, manganese gluconate, copper gluconate and potassium
lactate have GRAS status.
Magnesium lactate and zinc lactate are self-affirmed GRAS.
- Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay follow local legislation
|
|
Europe
- National legislation
is still leading
- EU is working on harmonization of legislation
- Draft Food
Supplements
- Draft Fortification
of Food
- Mineral lactates and gluconates are mentioned in these drafts and
on positive list of foods for particular nutritional uses
|
|
Asia-Pacific
- Mineral lactates and gluconates are generally allowed
- FOSHU regulates and supports mineral fortification in Japan
|
With respect to
the declaration of lactates and gluconates, in the list of ingredients, the
name of the substance must be mentioned in the list of ingredients of the
end-product in most parts of the world. In the EU and some South American
countries, either the name of the mineral lactate or mineral gluconate, or the
E-number of the additive may be used. Only clcium, iron and potassium mineral
lactates and gluconates possess an E-number.
10. Are mineral lactates and gluconates allergen-free (e.g.
lactose-free) and non-GMO?
Allergens are absent in PURAC's lactic acid, lactates and gluconates. This
includes diet allergens, which implies all mineral lactates and gluconates are
lactose-free. Based on the fact that PURAC uses non-GMO microorganisms in its
production process, all PURAC's lactic acid, lactates and gluconates are
non-GMO (non genetically modified food).
Top of page
