“No matter how it is defined, nutrition starts with what we eat, the products of the food and agriculture sector.” This is how the definition of the term “nutrition” begins on the website of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). While the public authorities took an interest in the subject twenty years with, in particular, creation in France of the High Council of Public Health, manufacturers and we, consumers, have not always fully considered the impact of our diet on our health. The health crisis into which we have been thrown has made us aware of this major issue.
Functional and nutritional ingredients – a tool to change the model
This change involves the integration of nutritional ingredients that can boast a recognized and authorized health claim into recipes and formulations. The precursor brands of this way of doing things are known, from Omega 3s in margarine to active bifidus in yoghurt. Closely managed by strict European regulations so as to avoid any marketing abuse, the trend has been confirmed in recent decades. However, despite the clear legal framework, some players take liberties in claiming virtues for their products that are not authorised, as revealed by the latest DGCCRF survey mentioning 69% of offenders checked in 2019 on the Internet.[1].
In keeping with Hippocrates who, in his time, already proclaimed: “Let food be thy medicine!”, the food sector is gradually approaching the nutraceutical sector in order to meet this challenging and growing demand for products, certainly for the mass market, but nutritious and healthy. Suppliers of functional and nutritional ingredients must respond to this new challenge by offering highly qualitative and specialized products.
Nutritional and functional ingredients from AlgoSource, non-stop innovation
The expertise of AlgoSource is based on three decades of research and development around microalgae and their bioactive molecules. Since its beginnings in 1995, AlgoSource has made the naturalness of its products and the search for biological properties part of its DNA. It combines controlled cultivation of microalgae biomass, respecting natural cycles, and water and cold-extraction techniques, without chemicals or synthesis, to guarantee unparalleled product quality. Its processes are developed and patented by the AlgoSource R&D team.
Spirulina extracts
Spirulysat & Copper
Known for millennia, Spirulina is the core knowledge of AlgoSource. Our Spirulysat® extract, highly nutritious, is supplemented with ionized copper which contributes to normal functioning of the immune system and strengthens cells against oxidative stress. Its extraction process, done without an increase in temperature with coating water, makes it possible to completely preserve its richness in proteins, amino acids, enzymes, sugars, water-soluble vitamins and mineral salts.
How can it be used? In a fortified functional or nutritional drink or in gel, for example, intended for people with active lifestyles, athletes, deprived populations (malnourished or undernourished) or those subjected to an intense and prolonged effort (soldiers, fire-fighters).
Spirugrass
Our second extract, lipid and protein fraction of Spirulina, is very interesting for its proteins, essential amino acids and beta-carotenes. Its nutritional richness makes it a first-choice ingredient for reaching the recommended daily intake with reduced amounts. Our method of cultivation in a controlled environment allows us to guarantee the absence of heavy metals.
How can it be used? As a nutritional and functional ingredient for everyday nutrition, culinary preparation (sauce targeting undernourishment, for example), drink, fruit juice.
Extracts rich in magnesium:
Coming from a terroir shaped for several centuries by the hand of man, our extracts come from the last water collected, at the end of the summer season, in the evaporation ponds of the Guérande saltworks. They are naturally concentrated in minerals and trace elements, including magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. However, this Mother Liquor is unusable as-is.
In order to extract and preserve the best properties, AlgoSource has developed an exclusive filtration and desalination process to offer the only marine magnesium compatible with salt-free diets. No calcification is applied to further concentrate it. Our Magnesium chloride is naturally easy to digest, and this is what we want to preserve.
How can it be used? Suitable for any solid or liquid preparation, breakfast, cereal bar, functional or isotonic drink, food supplement for athletes (recovery) the possibilities are endless.
What’s next?
In addition to its current and future clinical trials, AlgoSource is investing in the development of new extracts of microalgae intended for human consumption and health. This is the case with microalgae Chlorella vulgaris which contains many molecules of interest such as vitamin B12, useful for vegan or flexitarian diets, and beta-carotenes. AlgoSource is focusing its research on developing an innovative technique to permit cold extraction, without temperature rise, of the molecules of interest from Chlorella, making them more digestible and bio-assimilable.
In 2021, AlgoSource obtained the support of France Relance for its Porphycare project. It involves developing extracts from the Porphyridium cruentum microalgae to put innovative health nutrition products on the market. An objective of this project is to obtain Novel food status for Porphyridium because several studies have already demonstrated its potential benefits for nutrition. This microalga contains polysaccharides, pigments and proteins which are useful for human and animal food.
AlgoSource microalgae extracts, a natural advantage for your recipes. Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your product development projects.
[1] https://www.economie.gouv.fr/dgccrf/infusions-thes-chocolats-cereales-miels-encore-beaucoup-dallegations-de-sante-non-0