DietSpice, new from Pharmachem Laboratories Inc., the maker of Phase 2 Carb Controller, adds a new dimension to the growing category of functional foods. DietSpice is formulated to help people lose weight literally while they eat, in the form of delicious functional seasonings that are sprinkled atop or mixed into healthy meals.

"There are many people who balk at swallowing more pills to derive health benefits or specific objectives, and for those who want the benefits of reduced carbohydrate absorption, DietSpice was formulated to provide that benefit in a more wholesomely appealing way," explains Mitch Skop, senior director, new product development, for Pharmachem.

“Because of its versatility, we think our manufacturing customers will readily see the marketing advantages of this new delivery system for Phase 2. It’s also a concept that is so easy for consumers to understand: use the tasty seasoning in their foods, and the seasonings will immediately start going to work. Plus, there is definitely a 'yum' factor, which of course is a priority for consumers."

Skop adds that most consumers who commit themselves to healthier eating are unwilling to sacrifice the satisfaction of eating tasty, substantive food. Whether it's pasta, potatoes, rice, breads or cereals, DietSpice adds popular flavors—Italian, Asian, Butter & Spice, and Cinnamon Sweetener—with the benefits of Phase 2, an ingredient with more than a dozen human clinical trials demonstrating weight loss benefits.

"There are numerous food-by-mail programs, various restrictive diets, and most restaurants have a smattering of healthier, lower-calorie fare," Skop observes. "People are willfully trying many of these—gwhich do contain carbohydrates—in their attempts to lose weight. During their weight-loss process, adding DietSpice to any of these foods will help them achieve their goals—and remain satisfied."

As part of the lengthy R&D process that led to DietSpice, Pharmachem subjected Phase 2 to third-party sensory evaluations by the Tragon Corp. Testing found that the ingredient does not affect the taste or texture of foods in which it was added, including baked goods.

"This evaluation was significant as it shows that Phase 2 is a "food-friendly" material; viable in a wide range of packaged and prepared foods, and therefore, with the ability to open up a whole new "carb-conscious" food sector.

As a functional seasoning, DietSpice provides numerous flexible packaging options, from individual stickpacks—to boxes of assorted flavors—to actually incorporating it into frozen foods. Each stickpack contains a 1000 mg of Phase 2, a dosage shown in studies to reduce starch absorption and aid in weight loss.