Probiotic whey shots from Chr Hansen
consumer demand for healthy foods and is also claimed by the firm
to be the first of a kind aimed at drinkable whey shots.
Called My Whey, the package of ingredients for use by manufacturers will be first available in Germany, where whey drinks already have a history of being consumed. My Whey will be made of probiotic strains, BB-12 and LA-5, the enzyme Ha-Lactase for reduced sugar content in the final drink and natural colours for clean labeling. Chr Hansen will also provide details to companies on how this can be applied. It will then be launched across the rest of EU with the South American region to follow. Ingrid Klinth Holm, marketing manager, told NutraIngredients.com that the mix can improve the flavour and taste of whey for consumers. Negotiations with a number of companies in Europe are currently underway to see the ingredients added to whey shots. BB-12 and LA-5 are two popular Chr Hansen strains which have made their way into yoghurt cultures that it claims can offer yoghurt manufacturers up to 20 per cent more texture. BB-12 is said to boost gastro-intestinal and immune system health. The former has also been used in a probiotic mix for children, which came in powder form which could be added to food. Whey is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein. The global market for functional dairy drinks is on the rise and developing fast. According to Zenith International the sales in Western Europe, US and Japan alone are estimated to reach €6.25 million by 2011. Western Europe alone accounts for more than 55 per cent of the market. Holm said: "We have worked on combining the best of all worlds in My Whey. The end product is high on nutritional value, has a naturally fresh yoghurt note and is a convenient probiotic shot you can bring with you and enjoy on the go. To our knowledge this is the first concept for small probiotic whey shots on the market." It will come in three flavour: neutral, mango/orange and exotic with a tropical pineapple note. More are scheduled to follow. Holm added: "We are sure that the global consumer will welcome My Whey with all its built-in benefits, and we are certain that it will be appealing to producers as well. In times of high prices of raw materials within the dairy industry, whey stands out as a very cost-attractive alternative." Last month work was due to start on a dairy cultures production plant that Chr Hansen claims will be the largest of its kind when it becomes operational in spring 2008. The €40m investment, which the company says is the largest in its 130-year history, will allow Chr Hansen to strengthen its position as one of the foremost suppliers of dairy cultures for food and beverage production.
