Cargill focuses on health following Degussa deal
health-focused ingredients at next month's Vitafoods exhibition
following its successful acquisition of Degussa Food Ingredients.
The company said that it would use the exhibition to demonstrate its vision of accelerating health innovation in food by showcasing ingredient solutions focused on the dietary health and nutrition priorities of customers and consumers.
"Cargill is dedicated to improving health and nutrition globally, and one key avenue for this is through consumer-relevant, great tasting functional foods," said David Henstrom, general manager Europe, Cargill health & food technologies.
Four of the firm's new ingredients come from the recently acquired Germany-based Degussa Food Ingredients business. Arthred hydrolysed collagen for joint health, Leci-PS phosphatidylserine, Alipure alpha-Lipoic acid and Balantose wheat fibre will all be on display.
Cargill's acquisition was only confirmed this week after the EC finally granted approval. Degussa's food ingredients operations have 2,050 employees in total with 1,500 in the texturant area and 550 in the flavour business.
The addition confirms Cargill as a major supplier of starches, hydrocolloids, soy proteins, emulsifiers, dairy and meat cultures, and give it a significant position in ingredients systems and blends and health promoting ingredients.
The Commission was aware that Cargill had only recently entered the markets for lecithin, on which DFI was already a major actor, and that the merger would remove effective competition.
In the course of the investigation however, the Commission found that, although barriers to entry are rather high, several producers from Brazil and India have been able to enter the markets due to their easy access to the raw material (non-GM soybeans) and their partnership with distributors established in Europe.
Other products set to be showcased include two of Cargills leading nutraceutical / functional food ingredients: CoroWise Naturally-Sourced Cholesterol Reducer brand of plant sterols for heart health, and Prolisse soy protein isolate for general wellness and heart health.
Barliv barley beta glucan, a product in development with cholesterol reduction benefits, will also be featured.
Vitafoods International, which runs from 9 to 11 May in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the largest and most important health ingredients industry events in Europe. It attracts participants and attendees representing the functional food and drink industries.
