25 Jan 2010 --- AHD International, a distributor of new-to-market nutraceutical and functional food ingredients now offers a grade of LuraLean designed for use in a variety of meats including sliced meat, ground meat, poultry, sausage, beef and pork. LuraLean M is a zero calorie, tasteless, odorless, colorless, inexpensive natural meat binder. This grade of LuraLean lowers your processing costs by holding moisture better and creating a heat stable gel, specifically designed for meat.

LuraLean is a unique plant fiber from Japan that absorbs up to 200 times it’s weight in water, helping meat hold juice better and providing increased yield. You will also see a significant decrease in packaging drip and cookout. At less than $0.30 per pound hydrated, LuraLean helps lessen the number of additives in meat, lowers your cost, and provides tenderness and a springy texture to your finished product. Used in meat analogs, LuraLean also works as a fat replacer allowing companies to provide the lower fat, lower calorie meat products that so many consumers are searching for. The ingredient also has GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) designation from the FDA and USDA.

“With this specially designed LuraLean M grade for meat, manufacturers can produce all sorts of meat products with special qualities,” stated John Alkire, president, AHD International. “The heat stable gel will give sliced meat an increased yield, packaged meat will have less drip and cookout, cooked meats will hold their juices making them more flavorful even when going from the freezer to the table.”

More than 14 safety studies and 60 clinical trials have been conducted using LuraLean specifically, confirming it has no adverse side effects at the recommended amount. Currently this 100 percent natural, plant-based ingredient is patented in 33 countries and has been approved for use in the European Union.     About AHD International: AHD International is a major supplier of the highest quality new-to-market nutraceutical ingredients and functional food products to manufacturers, wholesalers and food companies worldwide. AHD’s triple-check system ensures that products are evaluated for natural purity, consistency and exceptional quality.