Imperial Sensus: Getting A Foot In(ulin) The Door
Imperial Sensus LLC, Sugarland, TX, is a joint venture between Imperial Sugar Corporation, Sugarland, TX, and Cosun-Sensus, Roosendaal, The Netherlands, a Dutch sweetener and food ingredient company (formerly known as Suiker Unie). Established in 1995, the company provides bulk inulin (fructooligosaccharides-FOS) under the brand name “Frutafit” to food processors throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Imperial Sugar is one of the largest producers and manufacturers of refined sugar products in the U.S. and Cosun-Sensus built the first production facility dedicated to extracting inulin from chicory.
With its solid parent companies, Imperial Sensus has taken on the role of educating North American nutrition-based companies and food processors on the benefits of Frutafit inulin. While the nutraceuticals industry is no stranger to what inulin is and what it can do, the food industry is a different story. Imperial Sensus’ focus remains on the food industry to help it develop marketable inulin strategies. According to Pam Galvin, vice president, sales and technical marketing, Imperial Sensus’ ultimate goal is to have accessibility to consumers through mainstream foods. “We want to get mainstream food companies on the bandwagon of enriching their products,” she said.
Frutafit’s reported health benefits include reducing “bad” cholesterol levels, increasing mineral bioavailability, particularly calcium, and promoting bifidobacteria, which improves digestion. In addition, it is also a low-calorie ingredient (1.6 kcal/g), which has diabetic food applications since it does not stimulate glucose production. In terms of functionality Frutafit is a water-soluble ingredient, which forms fat-mimicking gels and improves the texture and mouthfeel of low-fat foods.
In other company news, Imperial Sensus’ Frutafit inulin has been incorporated into an organic kefir product manufactured by Helios Nutrition, North Mankato, MN. “Organic Kefir with FOS” combines a traditional European fermented milk drink (kefir) with Frutafit inulin. Helios Nutrition’s Organic Kefir with FOS is available in plain and three flavors including cappuccino, peach and raspberry and rolled out in the Western U.S. last month. Additionally, Imperial Sensus has also been busy working on developing delivery systems for beverages, sports bars and salad dressings.
For the future Ms. Galvin commented, “Imperial Sensus will also continue to concentrate on refining and sharpening scientific data as well as participate in clinical trials to determine the role of inulin in overall health.” Ms. Galvin also sees more activity in the aging market in relation to bone density and hormonal recycling effects. —R.M.
Imperial Sensus
8016 Hwy. 90A, P.O. Box 9
Sugarland, TX 77487-0009
Telephone: 281-490-9522
Fax: 281-490-9615
E-mail: pgalvin@imperialsugar.com
Website: www.isullc.com
Circle 151 on Reader Service Card.