AgroFOOD industry hi-tech customer’s publications
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Fruitflow® and healthy blood flow
THOMAS STRICKER
Market Development Manager EMEA
[email protected]
DSM Nutritional Products Ltd.
Fruitflow® is a bioactive food ingredient made from tomatoes that is the subject of an
authorised health claim throughout the European Union. The claim is based on newly
developed scientific evidence from several studies carried out at the Rowett Research Institute
and by Provexis Natural Products Limited in the UK. Following a positive opinion on safety and
efficacy from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Fruitflow®, which is technically known
as “Water-Soluble Tomato Concentrate” (WSTC), was shown to have beneficial effects on
blood flow and blood platelet function. The approved health claim is “WSTC helps maintain
normal platelet aggregation which contributes to healthy blood flow”. The conditions of use
are that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily consumption of 3g WSTC I (syrup) or 150
mg WSTC II (powder) in food supplements when taken with a glass of water or other liquid.
All health claims are subject to strict European legislation (EC 1924/2006) and the law sets out
conditions of use, establishes a system for their scientific evaluation and creates Community
lists of authorised claims. Because claims must be properly justified and scientifically
substantiated, consumers are better able to make healthy choices based on clear and
accurate information.
Consumer understanding and scientific substantiation are cornerstones of the European
legislation. Key issues are how best to communicate the benefits of Fruitflow ® to consumers and
(i) help them understand the complex scientific information about how it works, and (ii) that
the use of Fruitflow® should be part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Fruitflow® exerts its effects on blood flow through actions on platelet function. Platelets are cells
that circulate normally in the blood. Damage to a blood vessel triggers the normal clotting
process, which depends on platelets changing shape and adopting a “spiky” or “sticky” form.
Fruitflow® works by keeping the platelets in a “smooth” form that helps them to circulate
normally through the blood vessels without sticking to each other or to the blood vessels
themselves. These beneficial effects of Fruitflow® are commonly expressed as “keeping the
blood thin”, and people understand that healthy blood flow is one of the main factors in
contributing to normal circulatory and cardiovascular health.
Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech - vol 24(3) - May/June 2013
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