Ingredients
An advanced brain-support ingredient, phosphatidylserine with conjugated DHA for better brain function is available. The new Lipogen DPS can be served in softgels, capsules and tablets. Phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid, and DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, are major components of the brain’s cell membranes. The healthy structure of the cell’s membrane facilitates the signals of neuron communication, supporting brain functions. Lipogen PS received affirmed GRAS status (FDA “no questions”) in 2006 and is a clinically-proven nutritional supplement designed to help adults whose cognitive function is slowing down by improving age-related decline in memory and other cognitive capabilities, as described in two qualified, FDA-approved health claims. All Lipogen products are vegetarian, solvent-free and kosher-certified.
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Book review
Dolf De Rovira, Sr.
Pub. by Wiley-Blackwell 2008 €177.00
Dictionary of Flavors provides information on flavours, flavour chemistry and natural products, as well as a perspective on the related fields of regulatory, sensory, chemistry, biology, pharmacology, business, bacteriology, marketing and psychology. Flavours covered include those used in food and beverages, tobacco flavourings, alcoholic beverages, and pet and animal foods. Comparative flavour chemistry is used to evaluate and describe homologous groups of similar chemical structures. Coverage in the second edition is extended to include the many significant and recent changes in the fields of flavour chemistry, food technology, and regulatory. Definitions of many items are expanded and inclusion of new items is extensive.

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Astepo HS-LA
In the compact Astepo High Speed Low Acid bag-in-box filler (HS-LA), filling cycles are shortened by the use of electric servo motors controlling the aseptic filling head and bag feeder. Bags and fitment tooling can be changed quickly and easily and the machine can fill a wide range of bags and products using any commercial 1” spout type. Designed to meet market demand for a faster, even more reliable machine, the Alfa Laval Astepo HS-LA linear bag-in-box filler is suitable for high acid (pH <4.5) and low acid products (pH >4.5), such as juices, beverages, concentrated juices, purees, and dairy products like soft ice mix and flavoured UHT milk. Specially developed for the sterile filling of aseptic bags, from 3 to 25 litres (1/2-6 gallons) the filler is fully automatic in operation and gives a continuous filling process with a high level of reliability. Thanks to the implementation of brushless electric servo motor technology in the new filler, all the movements of the aseptic filling and the bag feeder are controlled and adjusted with extreme accuracy and smoothness of motion. This is what gives the machine the capability to fill up to 500 bags per hour, based on 10 litre bags. It also enables changeover of caps and volume to be achieved in minimum time. The bags are delivered pre-irradiated with gamma rays, with a wide variety of commercial caps of the flat rigid type, or dispensing caps, both thermal and non thermal resistant, with high or low fitments. In the Astepo HS-LA filler the parts in contact with the product are in stainless steel AISI 316. The filling valve has EHDGE certification and the machine is FDA compliant (USA). The filling head and all food contact surfaces are sterilized by steam, and the machine is fully C.I.P. cleanable. The caps are sterilized in the sterilizing tunnel with a monitored jet of vaporized hydrogen peroxide before being introduced into the filling head. All moving parts are protected by monitored steam barriers and the aseptic filling head is maintained sterile at a controlled temperature by overpressure of air. Integrated in the machine skid, the air group comprises two sterile micro filters and food grade electric heaters for heating the air that goes into the chamber and the tunnel at a monitored flow and temperature. The Astepo HS-LA filler is managed by a PLC with an operator interface terminal featuring a touch screen. It is equipped with autodiagnostics for product traceability and a fail-safe system for continuous control of the sterile conditions of the plant.
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Researchers in the Sensors and Biosensors Group at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, have taken advantage of Tecan’s Sunrise™ absorbance reader and Magellan™ V4.0 software to establish a novel magneto-ELISA for gliadin, a constituent of the cereal protein gluten important in celiac disease, based on optical detection. The group has developed an electrochemical magneto immunosensor for the sensitive detection of gliadin – and small gliadin fragments – in natural or pretreated foods. To assess the performance of the electrochemical immunosensor, it was compared with a novel magneto-ELISA, using optical detection performed on the Sunrise plate reader. The ELISAs were performed in 96-well microplates, using a magnetic separation plate to isolate the supernatant before measuring the absorbance in the reader. This enabled immunoassays to be performed in a variety of different formats for multiple applications – such as evaluating protein coupling to magnetic beads and nanoparticles – as well as allowing assessment of different transducer materials for biosensing purposes. It also provided a quick and easy way to optimize reagents and assay parameters, making the reader suitable for research applications.
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Beverage innovation
The innovative liquid concentrate, Elexia, is stirring up tremendous interest throughout the beverage industry with a resulting taste experience that is very close to a freshly brewed tea. Plantextrakt’s innovative concept has emerged as the result of a new production technique, which guarantees that the ingredients are processed in a particularly gentle manner, ensuring maximum naturalness and genuine taste. All product variants based on green tea, rooibos, lemon balm and other herbs retain their original character as a result of this process.
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