Fruit d’Or to Launch World’s First Cranberry Probiotic Gummies At IPA 2016

“This gummy is a new delivery system to help promote good digestive health. We’re bringing two science-based ingredients together, and harnessing the unique benefits of cranberry seed prebiotic powder,” explains Stephen Lukawski, director of sales and business development for Fruit d’Or Nutraceuticals and CEO of RS Specialty Ingredients. Lukawski, who has long been a pioneer at the forefront of food innovation, has developed this product to showcase the structured functional benefits that cranberry as a science-based ingredient can bring to the food and beverage industries.

 

Cranberry powder is derived from the seed of the cranberry and has become the new star ingredient, as the first-ever plant-based fruit to become a super food. It is also ideal for smoothies, nutrition bars, yogurt, baked goods and beverages.

 

Fruit d’Or’s cranberry probiotic gummy introduction comes on the heels of its successful launch of the world’s first organic cranberry probiotic chocolate peanut butter cup in April. “This is another way to showcase cranberry seed powder as the next star ingredient in the dietary supplement industry. It is vegan, non-GMO Verified and organic.” 

 

Why LactoCran offers so much potential
Lukawski, who created the cranberry seed protein powder/probiotics formulation, calls the blend LactoCran, which testing demonstrates is more effective than FOS when combined with Bacillus coagulans.  “Results show that Bacillus coagulans probiotic strain from Sabinsa has 200 percent more activity growth when combined with the cranberry than FOS,” confirmed Lukawski. The LactoCran blend is produced at the company’s probiotics-designated Santa Cruz facility in Montreal. Bacillus coagulans is heat resistant, enabling it to survive the manufacturing process.

 

Lukawski explains that the Cran Naturelle cranberry powder acts as a good source to feed the Bacillus coagulans. The cranberry powder contains carbon and nitrogen, which feeds the Bacillus coagulans to give it fuel and provide its energy source. The cranberry provides 40 to 50 percent fiber and 20 to 25 percent protein. The combination of fiber and protein creates a tailor-made synbiotic effect.

 

“By adding the Cran Naturelle cranberry we have introduced the next generation of probiotic nutrition. And unlike inulin, cranberry seed powder produces no uncomfortable side effects such as bloating or gas,” adds Lukawski. 

 

According to Sabinsa Corporation’s Anurog Pander, this is truly innovative and novel concept illustrates the ability of the combination of cranberry and probiotics to promote a healthy gut. “We were pleasantly surprised to see how the cranberry synergistically worked with our probiotic strain providing greater results than using FOS as a fiber. There seems to be a synbiotic effect when the two ingredients are formulated together. The cranberry fits the requirement of our Bacillus coagulans.”

 

CQA guarantees purity, potency and safety
When it comes to developing products with cranberry, Lukawski states researchers and formulators must understand that not all cranberry is the same and that not all probiotic strains are equal.

 

“At Fruit d’Or, we have taken every step to provide a supply of cranberry that has been tested for efficacy and standardization. For example, our minimum potency of PACs is two percent for our cranberry seed powder.

 

“We are also a proud supporter of a five-star quality assurance testing program established for cranberry suppliers, called CQA. The CQA is a seal of approval which guarantees purity, efficacy and safety from farm to manufacture. In addition, all cranberry ingredients that we supply have been DNA tested for authenticity and tested for the prevention of adulteration. This is exactly what GNC has asked for from its suppliers but we have raised the bar higher by testing for adulteration of foreign contaminants.”

 

In addition, what separates Fruit d’Or further from its competition is the fingerprint analysis it conducts on all of its ingredients, to identify biomarkers. Lukawski says that polyphenol fingerprint analysis is important, as degradation can occur in the milling and drying stages of processing cranberry ingredients. Formulators must first understand what is in the cranberry powder before any research can be conducted. “What good are studies of they cannot be measured or replicated?”

 

Fruit D’Or is the only farm-to-table cranberry nutraceutical company. It has raised the bar of quality by offering higher testing standards than its competition. “Our cranberry seed powder is competitively priced to attract new business opportunities,” says Lukawski. “And because this is the only plant-based fruit powder that also contains protein, there is no reason why manufacturers should not consider using this star ingredient in all areas, from food and beverages to dietary supplements.”