Doehler to tap healthy ingredient trend in Paris

The German manufacturer of fruit juice concentrates, compounds, purees, flavours, emulsions and colours for the production of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be showcasing its latest concepts at the show, which runs from 22 to 26 October.

The focus on health comes in response to growing demand, both from industry and consumers, for healthier products. Obesity is now a mainstream issue that has exerted a great deal of pressure on the food industry.

Indeed, a new UK government report into obesity has reignited the debate over who should take responsibility for the growing epidemic. The department of health (DoH) report, which forecasts what levels of obesity in England may be in 2010 if current trends in obesity prevalence continue unchanged, makes for frightening reading.

More than 12 million adults and 1 million children will be obese by 2010, and the growing obesity crisis is expected to cause thousands more people to suffer related diseases like cancer, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Most companies are therefore desperate to show that they not only take this health issue seriously, but that they are taking action. As a result, Doehler will be placing low calorie products centre stage at SIAL.

New sweeteners, such as 'Multisweet Plus' and natural sweeteners derived from fruit juice concentrates will be prominently promoted. In addition, the company plans to display a new range of natural mineral waters flavoured with fruit juices.

This particular sector has proven highly successful in a number of European countries. In July, Britain's largest supermarket Tesco saw massive like-for-like growth​ , with up to 121 per cent sales rises for some waters.

The Darmstadt-based company will also be featuring new beverage bases for tea, yoghurt and juice ranges. The firm will be showcasing malt based non-alcoholic beverages that the firm says are targeted at adults.

And in addition, Doehler plans to unveil omega-3 ingredients with a neutral taste. The group has developed functional omega-3 ingredients based on fish oil that the firm claims are absolutely taste-neutral, allowing them to be used in high quality beverage and dairy recipes.

Numerous studies have suggested that omega-3 ingredients derived from fish oil could play a positive role in preventing heart disease. As a result there has been an explosion in Omega 3 products - Mintel predicts that this growth will con-tinue.

"In 2006 we are likely to see a number of new products containing Omega 3, a fatty acid which is usually associated with fish and which is said to enhance brain function,"​ said GNPD (Global New Products Database) consulting director David Jago.

New products outside Asia include Kids P'tit Yoco Omega 3 yoghurts from Nestle launched in Europe and a snack bar from Biomedical Laboratories in the UK called iQ3 Brainstorm! with Omega 3.

Mintel says that Omega 3-enriched products will become more mainstream in the coming months.