MaizeWise to address health concerns

Cargill's new line include three whole-grain corn and two corn-bran products that can be used in a wide array of applications including cereals, pasta, breads, tortillas, taco shells and extruded snacks.

Cargill Dry Corn Ingredients (DCI) has launched MaizeWise, a new line of whole-grain corn and corn-bran products. MaizeWise is claimed to expand food manufacturers’ choices in delivering healthful, corn-based products to their customers. The line include three whole-grain corn and two corn-bran products that can be used in a wide array of applications including cereals, pasta, breads, tortillas, taco shells and extruded snacks.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death and ill health in the UK. The Foundation recommends that all people eat a healthy, varied diet, including high fibre, whole-grain products. In 2002, the UK Joint Health Claims Initiative published its authoritative endorsement that whole-grain foods are associated with a healthy heart.

In the United States, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recommended that half of Americans’ daily grain servings come from whole-grain foods, stating that “diets rich in whole grains are associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease and may help with weight maintenance.” Similarly, the Committee cited fibre’s role in reducing type 2 diabetes and coronary-artery disease risk. As a result of these findings, the US Food and Drug Administration is promoting daily consumption of at least three servings of whole grain and an intake of 14 grams of dietary fibre per 1,000 calories consumed.

“Clearly, MaizeWise products help address a growing recognition of the important role that whole grains and fibre play in our diets,” said Mary Thompson, product line manager, Cargill DCI. “As a result, food manufacturers are seeking ingredient solutions that provide these nutritious components as part of their product formulations.”

MaizeWise whole-grain corn products can be used as a direct replacement for existing corn meal, masa or corn flours, or blended with other ingredients, according to Mike Van-Houten, Cargill DCI research and development manager. “They deliver 100 percent of whole-grain nutrition, are specially treated for enhanced storage stability and come in a spectrum of flavours,” said Van-Houten. 

“MaizeWise corn bran is an insoluble fibre that can dramatically boost dietary fibre at low-to-moderate inclusion rates, while providing minimal impact to flavour, texture and processing characteristics for a wide variety of food products,” she added.

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