Glanbia expands heat process for flaxseed safety

08-Nov-2012 - Last updated on 08-Nov-2012 at 10:33 GMT

Glanbia Nutritionals has expanded its heat treatment process for use with its milled and cracked flaxseed range.

The MicroSure Plus system, launched in 2010 for whole seed, has been validated by the Certified Food Safety Center and aims to improve food safety without compromising product quality.

Glanbia said the validation provides customers with the benefits and assurance of microbial safety, optimal shelf life and rich nutritional and flavour qualities.

The process launched in 2010 was specific “to our whole seed and the third party 5 log validation that we achieved at that time”, said the firm.

Specifically developed

Glanbia Nutritionals’ flaxseed heat treatment method was specifically developed for the company’s ChoiceGrad MP and SelectGrad MP flaxseed ingredients.

High in ALA Omega-3, dietary fibre, lignans and protein, ChoiceGrad whole grain flaxseed is used as a topping or a crunchy texture for bakery products, cereals, and nutrition bars.

SelectGrad milled flaxseed is a milled flax ingredient offering a soft texture and mild, slightly nutty flavour for ALA omega-3 fortification of a variety of food applications.

Expanded validation

Marilyn Stieve, business development manager, Glanbia Nutritionals, Wisconsin, USA, told FoodQualityNews.com: “This process is specific to milled flaxseed and results in a milled flaxseed that maintains the two year shelf life as well as not having any physical characteristics such as excessive lumping or oiling off.

“As the need for validation to ensure 5 log reduction of salmonella continues to grow and grow in the industry - we wanted to make sure we had the ability to offer the entire flaxseed and chia portfolio including whole seed, milled seed and cracked seed.”

Stieve added that validation is important to Glanbia Nutritionals and their customers because of the increasing awareness around food safety and raw agricultural crops.

“It is important for food products that do not have a kill step in their process to have raw materials that are heat treated. These products include such things as peanut butter or granola bars.”

Stieve added there were no immediate plans to expand but as the market continues to look for more heat treatment options so will Glanbia Nutritionals.