Waitaki Biosciences Introduce Bioactive, Sustainable and Non-GMO Ingredients from New Zealand

11 Apr 2016 --- Waitaki Biosciences, the New Zealand based developer and manufacturer of quality natural nutritional ingredients for the dietary supplement and personal care markets, will showcase three new specialty ingredients at the upcoming VitaFoods trade show to be held in Geneva, Switzerland May 10 -12, 2016.

The new products, which represent the culmination of an ambitious expansion project to increase capacity and develop new extraction technologies, build on Waitaki’s portfolio of natural nutritional ingredients from high quality New Zealand raw materials. The ingredients, all of which target health concerns in high demand categories, include:

Lipernex an omega 3 and phospholipid rich Green shell mussel oil,
ActiPhen freeze dried kiwifruit powder that promotes optimal digestive health
CassiPure anthocyanin rich blackcurrant extract for eye health, cognition and immune support

Chief Executive of Waitaki Biosciences, Craig McIntosh, says: “Waitaki’s product range has traditionally been in the area of bone and joint health, and inflammation. The addition of these new ingredients widens the net where our products have application, providing our customers with a more complete range of health care solutions,” says McIntosh. “Given increased focus on clean ingredients in the US, Europe and Asia, those sourced from New Zealand’s wholesome environment are just what consumers are seeking.”

McIntosh told FoodIngredientsFirst: “We see significant growth potential in products that help to support an aging population. Our new ingredients have specific functionality in the areas of inflammation, digestion, cognition, and eye health which are all areas of significant concern in older populations,” he says, “In addition to that we note growing concern about the safety and purity of dietary supplement products both from consumers and legislators.”

“All our ingredients use only New Zealand grown, sustainably sourced raw materials with full traceability, giving our customers total confidence in what they purchasing,” says McIntosh. “Geographically there is significant growth potential in most regions, but particularly for us the Asian market is promising, both because of its proximity, and the increased appetite for safe, effective products.”

New Zealand-grown fruit varieties in particular, from which ActiPhen and CassiPure are derived, have a number of advantages over their global counterparts. This is as a direct result of the unique New Zealand growing environment, which includes strict non-GMO policies, clean, environmentally sustainable growing practices and, as a consequence of the seasonal hole in the ozone layer, higher than normal levels of protective phytonutrients.

The successful installation and commissioning of a new 1 tonne freeze dryer further cements Waitaki Biosciences’ position as one of New Zealand’s leading manufacturers of high value nutraceutical ingredients. The new freeze dryer adds an additional 200 MT of freeze dried material to annual production.

“Not only does the new dryer increase freeze drying capacity at our plant, but, just as significantly, by dedicating this new dryer specifically to botanical products it enables greater efficiencies of production through our existing meat and marine based lines,” said McIntosh.

Simultaneously the company has been building a sophisticated new custom-designed solvent extraction facility, a project, which has seen significant investment over the past two years.

The solvent extraction facility effectively creates an entirely new business for the company, adding high value marine and botanical extracts to its traditional product portfolio of dried meat and marine products.

by Elizabeth Kenward