Conventional breeding / Food processing / Fortification Dr.ir. Gijs A. Kleter*, Dr. Harry A. Kuiper ABIC 2004, Cologne, Germany, September 15, 2004

Structure of the presentation Introduction Definitions Regulatory Nutraceutical / functional foods Conventional breeding Food processing Food fortification Conclusions Illustration: Cologne Tourist Office

Introduction Functional food: “similar in appearance to, or may be, a conventional food, is consumed as part of a usual diet, and is demonstrated to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutritional functions.” (working definition, Health Canada) Illustration: S. Bauer/ARS/ K

Introduction Nutraceutical: “a product isolated or purified from foods that is generally sold in medicinal forms not usually associated with food. A nutraceutical is demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease” (working definition, Health Canada) Illustration: BBC

Introduction Examples of regulations (I) Conventional breeding Variety registration Novel foods Processing Novel food Additives, processing aids, etc. Illustration: City University of Hong Kong

Introduction Examples of regulations (II) Fortification Fortified foods Foods for special uses Health claims Non-medical Scientific evidence

Conventional breeding Approaches for nutritional improvement Selection of mutants Maize opaque2 (QPM) Crosses with wild relatives Tomato (carotenoids) Maize (minerals) Mutation breeding Marker-assisted selection Illustration: S. Bauer/ARS/ K

Conventional breeding Examples (I): Tomato rich in beta-carotene USDA lines 97L63, 97L66, and 97L97 Progeny of cross with wild relative Beta-gene Beta-carotene formed at expense of lycopene Illustration: S. Bauer/ARS/ K4659-1

Conventional breeding Examples (II): Eggplant rich in phenolics ARS analysis 14 phenolics, including chlorogenic acid Differences in contents Variety Black Magic (commercial) highest Illustration: P. Greb/ARS/ K

Conventional breeding Examples (III): High-amylose maize (resistant starch) Hi-maize (commercial) Not digested like dietary fibre Claims Weight reduction Probiotic Prevents bowel cancer Illustration: National Starch

Conventional breeding Examples (IV): Reduced antinutrients or toxins: Phytic acid in cereals Solanin in potatoes Erucic acid in canola Illustration: S. Bauer/ARS/ K9152-1

Food processing Targets Prevention of loss of nutraceuticals Prevention of antioxidant loss Introduction or increase of nutraceuticals Proteases Deletion of adverse components Phytase Lactase Illustration: Roy Company Export Establishment

Food processing Examples (I): Digest of soy protein and lipids Digestion of: Protein by protease Lipid by phospholipase Combined digests (Soyscience) Claim: Cholesterol reduction Illustration: Kyowa Hakko

Food processing Examples (II): Use of phytase in foods Sources: Phytase-containing plant foods GM Aspergillus, starch processing aid Digestion of phytic acid Increased bioavailability: Iron, zinc, other minerals Phosphorous Illustrations: Novo Nordisk, NIAID Aspergillus oryzae Phytic acid

Food processing Examples (III): Preservation of probiotics Vitrilife (commercial) Cellular and non-cellular No freezing Vaccum evaporation, dry foam Ambient or higher storage temperatures Illustrations: Universal Preservation Technologies

Food fortification Example: Addition of vitamins and minerals In some cases required by law Salt iodination Folic acid In other cases voluntary Cereals, bakery, dairy, juices etc. Claimed health benefits: Beyond basic needs Additional properties of single substance Illustrations: Prepared Foods

Conclusions (I) Functional foods and nutraceuticals provide benefits beyond basic nutritional needs Conventional breeding, food processing, and fortification offer many options for nutritional improvement Illustration: Obozrevatel

Conclusions (II) Different regulations may pertain to each option Health claims need scientific support; no “miracle” compounds exist Nutritional impact: scientific pre-market assessment and post-market monitoring are important items

Illustration: Cologne Tourist Office Wageningen Cologne RIKILT – Institute of Food Safety

Thank you © Wageningen UR