In a move that will benefit apple growers around the world, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), a product now available for sale in the USA. “DHQ is a powerful antioxidant that has a greater antioxidant capacity when compared to vitamin C, and it is ideal in a variety of on-trend food applications, including beverages, yogurt and chocolate products,” says Dr. Linda May-Zhang, research, science and innovation officer at Blue California, the company marketing Taxifolin BC-DHQ®.
According to South Africa’s largest exporter of South African apples and pears and a company wholly owned by its growers, Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, what is especially good news about this move is that there is another potential customer for a large volume of fruit.“While also found in olive oil and red onions, Taxifolin is found in red apples in the highest concentrations,” says Tru-Cape’s Quality Manager Henk Griessel.
According to May-Zhang, immune health will remain a top priority for consumers as 64% of global consumers are looking to improve their immunity over the next 12 months, reported by FMCG Gurus, Top Ten Trends for 2021, December 2020.
“DHQ seeks and neutralises free radicals in the body, and its unique molecular structure makes it especially effective at preventing cellular damage. It can also play an important role in skin health since it protects cells and stimulates collagen and elastin production in the skin. Taxifolin BC-DHQ has much to offer as a powerful antioxidant in food and beverages as it provides improved colour stability for beverages, extends shelf life, and enhances flavour,” said May-Zhang. “Not only is DHQ regarded as a promising ingredient to immune health, it may also be used in cosmetic applications for anti-aging and UV-protection.”
