LycoRed Launches New Lyc-O-Mato® Delivery at IFT
26 June 2007
LycoRed, from Israel, will launch Lyc-O-Mato® self-dried cherry tomatoes – a new addition to the Lyc-O-Mato line – at the IFT this July. These unique tomatoes were developed especially for food fortification at the Israeli agricultural research centre, Volcani Institute. The high-lycopene tomatoes were bred and commercialised by Tomaisins International.
Whereas ordinary cherry tomatoes contain a fraction of a milligram of lycopene, each Lyc-O-Mato self-dried cherry tomato provides more than 1mg of lycopene, the powerful antioxidant that delivers so many health benefits. Only five of these self-dried cherry tomatoes are needed to provide the 5mg of lycopene serving recommended for the fortification of conventional foods.
Highly innovative, Lyc-O-Mato self-dried cherry tomatoes were conventionally bred with a water permeable outer layer that allowed them to dehydrate quickly, while still on the plant. Self-dried cherry tomatoes provide a nutritious and tasty addition to a wide variety of foods that will benefit from the savoury flavour and added tomato phytonutrients.
Like the other ingredients in the Lyc-O-Mato line, the self-dried cherry tomatoes provide not just lycopene, but the complete array of natural tomato phytonutrients, including beta-carotene, tocopherols and phytosterols. These phytonutrients comprise the Lyc-O-Mato oleoresin tomato lycopene complex, which is already well established in the dietary supplement industry.
Clinical research suggests that the synergy between the tomato phytonutrients is responsible for lycopene's role in promoting heart, prostate and skin health, and in protecting cells from oxidative damage.
"This is truly an example of LycoRed living up to its promise of 'creating innovative nutrition'," says Zohar Nir, VP of new product development for LycoRed. "The development of this unique means of delivering lycopene for fortification allows us to offer yet another lycopene fortification ingredient that complies with a clean label. These tasty little cherry tomatoes are perfect for fortifying rice mixes, cereals, savoury snacks, pastas and as the lycopene ingredient in nutrition bars."
According to Dr. Nir, the company will be licensing the use of the Lyc-O-Mato brand name and logo to manufacturers fortifying their products with the Lyc-O-Mato self-dried cherry tomatoes.
LycoRed works closely with their customers to successfully develop innovative nutritional products. LycoRed's creative fortification solutions simplify the development and production of cutting-edge food, beverage and nutritional supplement products. Partnership and support through all the stages of product development allow the customer to benefit from LycoRed's expertise and creativity.
LycoRed's main expertise lies in the production and formulation of natural carotenoids, including lycopene, lutein, beta-carotene, phytoene and phytofluene, as well as natural colorants, premix and microencapsulated ingredients.
