Enzyme Development Corp. Role Transitions, New Ingredients, and More

COMMUNITY

Role Transition at EDC

Enzyme Development Corp. (EDC) announced that Brian Murdoch, who was previously company vice president, assumed the role of president in January. Past company president and long-time IFT member Peter Moodie, who joined IFT in 1976, has moved into the role of senior management advisor and will remain fully involved with the company during a transition period.

Moodie joined EDC in 1987 and was promoted to president in 2010. In his new role, Moodie will be involved in longer-term growth projects. “I am looking forward to three specific projects: developing our aspartic acid protease derived from thistle, developing a broader application base for our ficin enzyme, and our project for ruminates to reduce greenhouse gases by the use of enzymes in the ration,” he says.

RESEARCH

Microbiota may have link to anxiety

Research from APC Microbiome Ireland at University College Cork suggested that gut microbiota may play a role in the heightened social fear response tied to Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and represent a potential therapeutic target. The analysis builds on recent findings that SAD patients have distinct microbiomes compared with healthy individuals by showing that transplanting microbiota from six patients with SAD into mice resulted in the mice exhibiting increased sensitivity to fear conditioning during social interactions as well as changes to immune and brain functions. The research suggested that the microbiome could be leveraged to devise therapeutic interventions to combat SAD.

NEW PRODUCTS

Butter Buds introduced a line of ingredient solutions, Butter Buds Creamy, that offers a cream-forward cheese flavor profile with savory butter base notes, with a much lower usage rate than standard cheese powders to deliver unprecedented formulation flexibility.

Nuseed Nutritional US, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nufarm Limited, selected Connoils as its exclusive partner for producing and distributing Nutriterra DHA Canola oil in powder formats. This new format expands potential applications for the plant-based source of total omega-3 oil, including beverages and functional foods.

Planteneers introduced a high-moisture extrudate made with pea protein for producing plant-based meat alternatives. Manufacture of these meat-like products is based on a stabilizing system from the fiildTex series. The texturate is offered in various sizes and shapes. A plant-based alternative to tuna can also be made with the high-moisture extrudate. The clean label product is available in pure form and can be used directly or as a component in ready meals. It also has a high protein content of 30 g per 100 g final product.

SternVitamin developed a new Beauty from Within premix line for instant drink powders and supplements. One premix, SternHolisticBeauty premix for instant drink powders, is specially tailored for holistic beauty, with micronutrients and other functional ingredients that support the gut immune system and the microbiota that work through the gut-skin-brain axis to strengthen the skin barrier and improve skin health. The lavender extract it contains helps with relaxation and stress reduction, while its pantothenic acid supports mental performance.

INDUSTRY UPDATE

In January, Anton Paar took over the global sales and service network of Brabender, a company it acquired in August 2023. A key added value for customers lies in the 37 global sales and service centers of Anton Paar, which offer not just local expertise for the varied Brabender product portfolio but also guaranteed direct access to demo instruments, detailed sample analysis, and tailored application advice. As Brabender’s strengths are integrated, the focus remains on innovative solutions and outstanding service.

Biocatalysts successfully completed the acquisition of Breatec, WeissBioTech, and Biosun from its parent company BRAIN Biotech AG, creating the Bioproducts Division under the Biocatalysts brand. As a multi-specialty enzyme business, Biocatalysts offers focused application capability, scale-up, and fermentation expertise, combined with the benefits of shared services.

Brightseed announced that it will use its second grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ($1.6 million) to focus its artificial intelligence (AI) technology, Forager, on identifying and validating natural bioactive compounds that target environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) in undernourished pregnant and lactating women, ultimately impacting global birth and infant outcomes. Through this grant, Brightseed will use its Forager platform to screen more than 7 million plant compound associations for efficacious and safe solutions that provide benefits for undernourished mothers with EED. The project will ultimately result in candidate clinically effective nutritional products and potential therapeutics to support gut health in pregnant and lactating mothers in order to improve birth outcomes.

Nexira launched the third phase of its Acacia Program, which aims to promote sustainability and positive social impact in Africa. This phase of the Acacia Program supports rural communities engaged in gum acacia production. It focuses on strengthening the gum acacia sector with more producers involved, a particular benefit for women, and a greater surface of responsible forest management.

Health Canada authorized 10 health claims for Cargill’s EpiCor postbiotic related to its role in supporting immune and digestive health. EpiCor’s claims, based on an efficacious dose of 500 mg daily for adults 18 years and over, include the following: Helps to reduce the incidence of cold and flu symptoms (during the winter months); Helps to reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies such as nasal stuffiness/congestion; Helps relieve nasal stuffiness/congestion associated with seasonal allergies; Helps to maintain immune function; An antioxidant that helps to support good health; Source of antioxidant(s)/provides antioxidant(s); Helps support intestinal/gastrointestinal health; Helps to improve occasional mild to moderate bloating/distension; Helps to improve occasional mild to moderate feeling of fullness; and Occasionally helps to improve stool consistency.

Florida Food Products announced the issuance of a new patent granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its rice bran extract marketed under the VegStable Plus brand. VegStable Plus is an all-natural, plant-based ingredient that replaces chemical ingredients like starches, gums, phosphates, and carrageenan and enhances the juiciness, flavor, and texture of meat products.

Kalsec opened a new Finishing and Distribution Centre in Singapore, located at JTC Food Hub @ Senoko, a shared facility fostering an ecosystem of players in the food industry.

dsm-firmenich announced Peach+ as its 2024 Flavor of the Year, its twelfth annual flavor of the year designation. Peach+ was inspired by PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, the 2024 Color of the Year from PANTONE, the global color provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions for the design community. Peach+ is an invitation to dsm-firmenich customers to innovate with this flavor, to go beyond the traditional juicy sweet aspects to also consider softer, smoother, lighter, more refreshing, and textural elements.ft

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