Lallemand launches clean label GUARD technology for oral delivery protection

19 Oct 2021 --- Lallemand Health Solutions has unveiled a clean label technology to protect probiotics and other active ingredients from gastric acidity. GUARD – short for GUt Acid Resistant Delivery – is a patented, all-natural oral delivery platform. 

It can be used in both capsules and tablets for the controlled release of a wide range of active ingredients.

“The ingredient creates a gel barrier in a low pH environment, protecting the probiotic formula from stomach acidity. When it reaches the intestines, it disintegrates as the pH increases, releasing the bacteria where they need to be,” Bérengère Feuz, marketing director at Lallemand Health Solutions, tells NutritionInsight. 

In addition to delivering the supplement to the right site of action, the technology also boasts reduced gastric side effects. 

Its launch comes a few months after Aventus granted Lallemand Health Solutions exclusive use of its flagship NutraJIT technology for probiotics, which is used in GUARD. 

NutraJIT technology reduces gastric side effects and release actives in a controlled way.Tapping into clean label
NutraJIT technology is “a great addition” to Lallemand’s existing portfolio, affirms Feuz. 

“Even though Lallemand has existing protective technologies to make sure all probiotic strains reach their site of action, NutraJIT brings its own additional benefits for consumers.” 

Feuz adds that a key feature of NutraJIT is that it is a clean label solution. “NutraJIT is a derivative of food-product protein and, as such, ticks all the boxes for consumers: all-natural, allergen-free, clean label and added protection.”

She explains that clean label products appeal to 78% of global consumers. Moreover, 66% of supplement users state that a “100% natural/free-from artificial ingredient” claim is influential in choosing what supplement to purchase. 

Innova Market Insights reports similar clean label findings, with the number one positioning for food, beverage and supplement launches in 2020 being “no additives/preservatives” worldwide.

More applications in the works
Although it was initially developed for the probiotic market, this oral delivery platform has since extended its features to other products and can be used in combination with a wide range of active ingredients. 

The technology can also be applied to vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts and specialty supplements. It has already been convincingly tested and used to protect other ingredients, like melatonin, vitamins and certain minerals, Feuz adds. 

Lallemand will present the GUARD technology in more detail at SupplySide West.

In other gut health advancements, Lallemand recently announced a partnership with FrieslandCampina Ingredients to offer synbiotic combinations of probiotics and prebiotics.

The company has also teamed up recently with Activ Inside to combine probiotics with botanical ingredients. 

By Missy Green