Palatinose to be Launched in the Russian Market

Food Ingredients Russia 2006, Moscow, is the venue chosen by Palatinit for the Russian launch of Palatinose, their functional carbohydrate with sports-related characteristics such as prolonged energy release and low glycemic effect.

03/11/06 The German company Palatinit, well-known in the confectionery industry as supplier of Isomalt, the number-one sugar replacer in sugarfree candies, is to announce the introduction of the carbohydrate Palatinose (isomaltulose) to the Russian market. Palatinose offers a range of nutritional advantages to the food and drink industry.

Both the company Palatinit as well as Palatinose are named after the region of South-West Germany known as the Palatinate, where the new ingredient was discovered. Yet not only the name of this region, but also one of its most important agricultural crops – sugar beet – plays a major role because Palatinose is, as well as Isomalt, made exclusively from sugar.

Palatinose is a disaccharide produced on industrial scale from sucrose; in small quantities it is known as a natural constituent of e.g. honey and sugar cane and has a very natural mild sweet taste. Like sucrose it is fully digested and therefore provides the same calorific value. Unlike sucrose Palatinose is tooth-friendly and digested much slower, leading not only to a low glycemic response but also a prolonged glucose supply. Thus, Palatinose is a slow-release carbohydrate that therefore provides a ‘better energy’ in food and drinks for consumers. An optimal energy supply is a topic of increasing importance in research and product development as it may play a role in health as well as physical and mental performance. Moreover, research has shown that the low glycemic properties of Palatinose may support the body in fat oxidation.

Palatinose is highly suitable for production of wellness and functional drinks, whether as instant formulas or as ready-to-drink beverages. But also sports drinks aiming to offer an energy supply tailored to specific requirements by combining ‘fast and instantaneously available’ and ‘slowly release’ carbohydrates can benefit from this ingredient. New cereal and dairy drinks can be developed for the convenient on-the-go-breakfast, as can instant tea and coffee specialties aiming for a wellness positioning. Furthermore, technical trials have shown that Palatinose can be used in cereals and nutritional bars.

One of the first major products to adopt the ingredient is a new milk-fruit juice by Danone, which is positioned mainly as a breakfast drink or as an ‘in-between-liquid-snack’ and communicates ‘Energia duradera’ meaning ‘long-lasting energy’. Available in ‘lemon and melon’, ‘pineapple and orange’ and ‘tropical’ flavours and sold in 200ml bottles the blend of milk and fruit-juice makes the nutritional advantages of Palatinose available to a broad public and meets the increasing demand for ‘food on the go’.

Palatinit, a subsidiary of Südzucker, Europe’s largest sugar producer, was one of the first to file a novel food application and received approval for Palatinose in the EU in summer 2005 followed by the US GRAS notification in spring 2006. The latest step in this successful introduction is the approval of Palatinose in Russia with the Sanitary Epidemiological Certificate issued by the Russian Ministry of Health only a few weeks ago. This approval is linked to the application documentation of Palatinit, which effectively means that this carbohydrate can only be claimed ‘notified by Russian Ministry of Health’ when sourced from Palatinit. This regulatory status will provide manufacturers with complete confidence in Palatinose for use in food and beverage as well as an added marketing advantage.

More information about this exciting ingredient, which is a true alternative to existing carbohydrates, and about the latest market developments and trends within the functional food, drinks and confectionery segment will be available at the Food Ingredients Russia show to be held in Moscow in December.