November 19/Toronto/The Toronto Star -- Potatoes may be the new weight-loss secret thanks to a decision by Health Canada to allow an extract of the spud to be laced into food.

The government department's Food Directorate has given an ingredient created by Kemin Health, "nonnovel food status," which means it can be added to foods and beverages without any other approval process.

Some lines of cereal bars and shakes sold in the U.S already contain the ingredient, Kemin product manager Corey Jansen told the Star.

White potato extract is the core ingredient and delivers a dose of proteinase inhibitor II that in turn is said to encourage the release of cholecystokinin, an appetite-suppressing hormone. The extract is found "just underneath the skin" of the potato, although a person would have to down three or four spuds to get the same amount, he said.

The approval process "went fairly quickly" over a period of three to six months, Jansen said.

The ingredient was developed in 2006 and has similar status in the U.S. and Europe. The next step, he said, will be to develop drinks such as bottled tea or "a Crystal Lite type of sachet" with the ingredient.  

From the November 22, 2010, Prepared Foods' Daily News
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