Overcoming challenges with delivery technology
When LCPUFAs oxidise, infant and young child formula develops off-flavours, nutritional value decreases, and shelf-life is significantly reduced. But with the help of our high-end micro-encapsulation technology, using the FILTERMAT™ spray drying system, formulating with LCPUFAs is now more straightforward than ever. A two-stage drying process includes nozzle spray drying and continuous flow belt drying, to gently but efficiently transform heat sensitive and difficult-to-dry products into free-flowing, agglomerated powders.
When nutritional oil is micro-encapsulated, it forms droplets, safely encapsulated within a powder matrix of carbohydrates and/or proteins. This matrix protects the oil from the environment, both when stored as a standalone ingredient and when mixed with other ingredients to craft a formulation. This ensures both nutritional and sensory stability over time. To facilitate manufacturing, our Vana-Sana™ range of micro-encapsulated nutritional oil powders offers different concentrations of DHA and ARA from a variety of sources, including tuna oil, algae and fungi.
We conducted a 24-month sensory study of ‘fishiness’ to find out whether taste can be affected by the way DHA is incorporated into a formulation. It was found that the sensorial stability of a final powdered product is best when DHA is added as encapsulate during a dry blending phase.