NCI and Infusd Nutrition to shake up functional drink space with sustainable omega oils

23 Jul 2024 --- Natures Crops International (NCI) and Infusd Nutrition team up to innovate a novel food and beverage delivery platform. According to the two companies, the platform will allow customers to bring the health benefits of Ahiflower-derived omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids to new product categories, such as kombuchas, hydration drinks, plant-based creamers, ready-to-drink teas and coffees and kids fruit and veggie squeeze pouches.

The companies note that overcoming consumer’s “yuck factor” when it comes to including omega-3s such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in formats other than supplements is challenging. The companies also point out that shelf life constraints, inclusion limits and sensory challenges hinder format versatility in most fish and algal oils.

“We have always viewed regeneratively-grown Ahiflower oil as a way for consumers and their health advisors to think beyond fish oil,” says Andrew Hebard, NCI’s CEO and founder. “With the Infusd Nutrition platform’s next-generation solubility gains, we’re excited to see many new consumer-facing food and beverage niches filled with delicious, convenient and highly stable plant-based omega-3-6-9 offerings addressing, for example, kid’s nutrition, healthy aging and active lifestyles.”

Focus on sustainable sourcing
NCI adds that its Ahiflower oil is rich in omegas-3-6-9 and contains the highest-available levels of stearidonic acid, which, along with EPA and DHA, have been shown to have cardiovascular, immune, joint, skin and cognitive health benefits.

NCI also underscores the importance of its vertically-integrated Ahiflower oil supply chain, which allows for stable pricing in “turbulent” omega-3 supply space. The company stresses that its Ahiflower oils are more oxidatively stable than fish and algal oils and naturally and sustainably delivers more omegas than standard fish and algal oils.

“In a market that has seen rapidly rising costs for omega-3 ingredients, a carrier system that enables greater bioavailability of the active ingredient in foods and beverages means meeting daily omega-3 intake goals can be achieved at considerably lower costs,” says David Giffin, co-founder of Infusd Nutrition.

Creating functional beverages
Infusd Nutrition reveals its pioneering clean label process enables water solubility of fat-soluble and insoluble ingredients. Moreover, the company says it can do so at higher payloads and with proven stability. 

Its natural and plant-based oil solubility system more than doubles the bioavailability of conventional emulsions and more than quadruples the bioavailability of omega-3 oils.

Additionally, Infusd Nutrition says its solution is cost efficient and can significantly improve the cost-per-serving equations for food or beverage formulators.