03.13.12
Axium Foods, South Beloit, IL, has launched its Mystic Harvest brand of all-natural tortilla chips that contain Suntava purple corn. Mystic Harvest’s Authentic Tortilla Chips with Sea Salt and Multi-Grain Tortilla Chips contains 25% more antioxidants than a serving of blueberries based on their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score, according to the company. Anthocyanins, the naturally occurring pigments responsible for the corn’s rich purple color, are potent antioxidants. The ORAC system measures the antioxidant value of foods; the higher the ORAC score, the higher the level of antioxidants in the food. Mystic Harvest Purple Corn Tortilla Chips have an ORAC score of 6000 and blueberries have a score of 4669. The chips also contain an average of 63% more fiber and 20% more protein than blue corn tortilla chips, as well as seven of the nine essential amino acids.
