Purac: Forging Ahead in Fortification

Founded in 1935, Purac has grown into the world’s largest and most experienced manufacturer of natural lactic acid and lactates, as well as the leading producer of gluconates. Purac is a subsidiary of CSM, a Dutch multinational company involved in the production and marketing of food ingredients and confectionery with a presence in more than 100 countries.

Over the years, the company has developed a global perspective, maintaining manufacturing facilities in North America, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands, in addition to a worldwide sales network. Purac’s product line includes Puracal®, Puramex® and Gluconal®, which are mineral sources suitable for mineral fortification of foods, beverages and dietary supplements. Due to their high solubility, neutral flavor and high bioavailability, the most attractive applications for mineral lactates and gluconates are beverages and dietary supplements. Some typical examples of products in which mineral lactates and gluconates are already being used are fruit juices, sports drinks, enhanced waters, soft drinks, powdered beverages, acidified dairy drinks, yogurts, soy drinks, milk-fruit juices, health bars, infant formulas, lozenges and vitamin and mineral supplements.

Sharon Rokosh, senior market development specialist, Purac America, Lincolnshire, IL, says the company’s minerals are perfectly suited for the nutraceutical and functional food industry. “Purac produces a full line of minerals, which are derived from natural L(+) lactic acid and/or gluconic acid,” she said adding, “Our calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, iron, copper and manganese are GMO-free, Kosher certified, allergen-free, highly soluble and bioavailable.”

Discussing current trends, Ms. Ro­kosh said that growing consumer awareness of calcium’s health benefits has led to the expanded popularity of calcium-fortified products. Calcium ingredients for beverages require specific properties to ensure both nutrition and quality in the finished product. Adding calcium to fortified waters and other minimally flavored beverages is particularly challenging. To overcome this hurdle, Purac introduced a new product to its Puracal XP line, called Puracal XPure, which was developed to provide optimal flavor in addition to a good level of solubility. This white, free flowing powder has a calcium content of 12-13% and works well at fortification levels of 10% of the RDI in waters, enhanced waters and sports drinks.

In 2002, Purac acquired Glucona adding mineral gluconates and calcium lactate gluconates to its product line. In general, the gluconates are usually preferred for use in vitamin and mineral supplements, due to their flowability, bioavailability and good compressibility characteristics. Single ingredient tablets of potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron have become standard items in many VMS product lines, and are often supplied as gluconate salts.

The nutraceutical and functional food segments of the industry will continue to grow and mature, according to Ms. Rokosh, because she says more than 80% of consumers recognize that there is a definite connection between diet and health and as a result, the interest in the positive health benefits associated with the nutraceutical and functional food segments will continue to grow. “Some people are looking for products to improve overall health and wellness, while others are looking for products with specific health benefits to add to their diet,” she said. “The condition-specific market is expected to continue to grow as long as marketing claims are based on scientific evidence and consumers perceive that they are deriving a benefit from the functional ingredient.”

For the future, Ms. Rokosh be­lieves the increasingly busy lifestyles of consumers will be a key driver for convenient, functional products, which offer simple solutions. “Nutraceuticals and functional foods, which meet the aforementioned criteria have the greatest likelihood of success,” she said.–T.W.


Purac America
111 Barclay Blvd.
Lincolnshire, IL, 60069
Telephone: 847-634-6330
Fax: 847-634-1992
E-mail: srokosh@purac.com
Website: www.purac.com