Chewing Gum Delivery System for Cranberry Juice Concentrate Powder

12/11/07 Lallemand Health Ingredients has announced that leading chewing gum contract manufacturer Gumlink has selected Nutricran90 concentrated cranberry powder as active ingredient for their cranberry functional chewing gums, ready to be marketed in USA.

Considering the growing interest for functional chewing gums carrying health benefits from natural active ingredients, Gumlink has recently developed cranberry chewing gums and offer this finished formula to leading branders and retailers. Cranberry chewing gums are paving the way for new, enjoyable and practical delivery formats for the company’s natural health ingredients.

“Building on our long experience from traditional supplement applications, the addition of chewing gum as a delivery system is an exciting new path for both Gumlink and Lallemand Health Ingredients. I am particularly excited about the proven release of the active cranberry substance under live chewing conditions”, says General Manager Nicolai Jensen from Lallemand Health Ingredients. He added: “We expect this to be the first in a line of new delivery vehicles for our standardized fruit powders”.

Gumlink draws on their extensive knowledge on active ingredients implementation into chewing gum. The company examines their product qualities such as taste, texture, release of active ingredients, appearance and stability before choosing the best raw material source for their functional chewing gums. Among other quality criteria, the technical department has analyzed the release and stability of the active cranberry ingredients, anthocyanidines, during the chewing process. This was done by exposing a pilot sample of the chewing gum to a “chewing robot”, which simulates the oral conditions during the chewing process. A technician from Chew Tech development Center confirmed the release of anthocyanidines from the cranberry powder, an important pre-requisite for obtaining a health claim on a functional chewing gum.

The North American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is recognized for its strong antibacterial and anti-oxidant properties. Recently a number of studies have linked cranberries to oral health due to their ability to prevent certain bacteria from adhering inside the mouth and causing infections. In 2007 two new independent studies have been published, linking cranberries to the prevention of periodontal, or gum disease. Moreover, the anti-oxidant properties of Nutricran90 have been examined in a recent independent study.

Until now, the health benefits of cranberries were available through juice, water-soluble powders, tablets, capsules or soft gels, as well as a through a variety of food products. Chewing gums are the first snack among adults, and cranberry functional chewing gums represent an enjoyable and practical solution to deliver the active ingredients of cranberry.

A functional chewing gum with Nutricran90 will be launched in the United States. Gumlink has already noticed strong interest from European companies for their new cranberry chewing gum formula.

NutriCran90 is a spray-dried cranberry concentrate powder standardized to a minimum of 90% cranberry fruit solids and 35% organic acids. NutriCran90 is 100% water soluble and contains unique proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins, which have been identified as the active component responsible for inhibiting the adhesion of certain bacteria to cell walls. NutriCran90 cranberry powder supports urinary tract health and offers a convenient low-calorie alternative to cranberry juice beverages. NutriCran90 is distributed in EU by Lallemand Health Ingredients, under exclusive license from US based company Decas Botanical Synergies.