It was a close race. This year's NutrAward received the strongest entries in the history of the award. The 2009 NutrAward judges narrowed the field to three finalists and one honourable mention. The winner will be announced at SupplyExpo, March 6-8, 2009 (co-located with the Nutracon conference). Please join us for the NutrAward Ceremony and Reception at the Anaheim Convention Center, SupplyExpo, Hall A,?Booth #130, March 7, 2009 from 5-6:30 pm.
To vote, go to nutraconference.com.

AHD International's Lura-Lean is a water-soluble, dietary-fibre formula to support weight loss. The ingredient is derived from the Amorphophallus Propol konjac root, which traditionally is used in Japanese noodles and jellies. LuraLean has more than 14 safety studies and 60 clinical trials behind it. It expands to 10 times its original volume, but only after it reaches the stomach and interacts with human enzymes, making it a beneficial fibre for weight-loss products. The ingredient was developed specifically for beverage manufacturers to deliver fibre but without high viscosity, such as a smoothie. LuraLean is available in several grades and has GRAS status.
www.ahdintl.com

The European ingredients market for heart-health products reached $545 million in 2008 and is targeted to rise to $2 billion by 2014. DSM TensGuard is positioned to play a role in this growth. It contains the lactotripeptides isoleucine-proline-proline (IPP), which is proven to help control blood pressure. Lactotripeptides are present, but inactive, in normal dairy products. TensGuard contains enzymes that release these peptides.
www.DSM.com

Gourmetceuticals' PPL-240 is an antioxidant derived from a South American fern, Polypodium leucotomos, which has historical uses for treating inflammatory skin disorders. Clinical oral and topical research demonstrated PPL-240's photoprotective ability against cell damage caused by the UV-A and UV-B rays. PPL-240 is organic, kosher and is FDA approved for both human and animal consumption.
www.gourmetceuticals.com

Honourable mention
Retaining the full potential of probiotics strains in food production and after consumption has always been a challenge. The NutrAward judges felt compelled to give honourable mention to Morishita Jintan for its seamless encapsulation process that encases live freeze-dried bifidobacterium. The technology solves an ongoing problem of allowing the capsule to reach the intestine, while retaining the properties of the live bacteria. The process also allows for mass production of encapsulations for food, beverages and dietary supplements.
www.jintanworld.com