BI Nutraceuticals currently offers more than 200 ingredients that have been determined as safe for use in foods and beverages, under Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)--including acai, ginkgo leaves extract, American and Oriental ginseng root, goji berry, guarana seed and yerba mate.

Since 2002, the company has been an innovator in steam sterilization, and its Protexx HP process is currently the industryís only species-specific, organic sterilization method, notes BI Nutraceuticals. The process complies with recent changes to federal regulations that prohibit the use of either ethylene oxide (EtO) or irradiation to sterilize dietary ingredients and nutritional supplements.

All herbal powder ingredients are tested under the companyís Identilok species identification process, which includes: thin layer chromatography (TLC); Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); microscopic image analysis; organoleptic testing; and macroscopic taxonomy. Additionally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and/or gas liquid chromatography (GC) are conducted, if required. BI Nutraceuticals has also developed a proprietary process, UltraHD, which creates high-density herbal powders, allowing for superior flow and less dusting during the manufacturing process. The company supplies vitamin triturations, vitamin or mineral microencapsulates, agglomerates and directly compressible products.

BI Nutraceuticals operates two manufacturing facilities with organic certification from Quality Assurance International (QAI), which is designed to certify every step of the organic chain, from production through harvest and post-harvest to the processing and handling facilities. More than 100 certified-organic products are available.

In foods, bioactives can interact with other ingredients; hence, proper processing is critical to ensure stability and effective dispersion. Botanicals present many challenges for the food industry, such as solubility and taste, says Emilio Gutierrez, vice president of technical services, It is critical that the ingredient manufacturer understand the complex relationship between maintaining good flavor profiles and functionality. At BI Nutraceuticals, we can deliver product fortification and enrichment solutions to our customers in all segments of the food and nutritional industries.î

BI Nutraceuticals offers straight cut teas and powders, as well as the ability to formulate and produce special powder and tea combinations and nutritional pre-mixes (blends of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals or other configurations).

There is interest in several ingredients for foods, including Superfruits for beverages and fruit roll-ups; green tea; and blends and pre-mixes that produce ìhealthier-for-you foods. Beverages for extreme sports or weekend enthusiasts and energy ingredients, including caffeine and guarana (especially lower-calorie energy shots), are also areas of interest.

BI Nutraceuticals offers a number of antioxidant ingredients that show high Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC), a method which measures antioxidant capacity against a free radical. The inhibition of free radical damage while in the presence of an antioxidant is assessed through tracking the intensity during a fluorescent probe. Many of BI Nutraceuticals ORAC products have the same benefits as about five servings of fruit and vegetables per day.

Examples of unique antioxidant products available from BI Nutraceuticals that have strong free radical-quenching ability include RoseOx, a breakthrough new dietary supplement based on a lipid-soluble extract of rosemary; and Rossentia, a proprietary, water-soluble dietary supplement that contains 5% rosmarinic acid, a water-soluble phenolic compound.  NS
 

For more information:
BI Nutraceuticals * Long Beach, Calif.
Walter Postelwait * 310-669-2100
contact@botanicals.com * www.binutraceuticals.com