Chicago, Illinois - July 30, 2007
FORTEFIBER™ Soluble Dietary Fiber, a food ingredient developed by The Dow Chemical Company, received an inaugural Food Expo Innovation Award from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), considered the authoritative voice in the food science and technology industries. The IFT judging panel recognized FORTEFIBER™ for its ability to increase fiber content in a variety of products without sacrificing taste and texture.
In recent clinical trials, FORTEFIBER™ products have been shown to help maintain normal levels of blood glucose, insulin and cholesterol in healthy people. Derived from highly purified plant fibers, a renewable resource, they are non-fermentable, non-allergenic and based upon patented technology.
“Since its launch in November 2006, FORTEFIBER™ Soluble Dietary Fiber has been included in a growing variety of food and nutritional supplement products,” stated Eric Workman, global marketing manager for FORTEFIBER™. “Manufacturers have recognized that its distinct combination of functional and health benefits enables them to address consumers’ demand for increased fiber content in their diet.”
The IFT Food Expo Innovation Award recognizes exceptional advancements in food production that were commercialized after January 1, 2006. FORTEFIBER™ was one of 75 entries from a wide range of food-related products and services, including ingredients, technologies, instrumentation and equipment.
“The addition of dietary fiber to a wide range of food and beverage products delivers significant public health benefits,” noted an IFT panel judge. The judges also cited “patented technology” and “the structure/function claim” as reasons for their decision.
Food formulators use structure/function claims to communicate potential product benefits to consumers. To aid formulators, Dow researchers developed an analytical method to determine the dietary fiber content of foods and nutritional supplements. This method has been validated by AOAC International, allowing formulators to include the amount of soluble dietary fiber provided through the addition of FORTEFIBER™ products on their nutritional labels.
Dow was honored during the opening session of the 2007 IFT Food Expo in Chicago, Illinois.
About Dow Wolff Cellulosics
A preferred development partner in its markets, Dow Wolff Cellulosics supplies high-performance cellulose derivatives and complementary chemistries, and is expert in formulation know-how for a broad variety of end-use products in construction, food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, paint and other specialty industrial applications.
A business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Wolff Cellulosics was created on July 01, 2007 as a new business encompassing the activities of Wolff Walsrode and Dow’s Water Soluble Polymers business. On a pro-forma basis, Dow Wolff Cellulosics had combined revenues of more than US $1 billion in 2006 and employed 2,200 people worldwide. More details about Dow Wolff Cellulosics are on the Web at www.dowwolffcellulosics.com.
About Dow
About the Institute of Food Technologists
Founded in 1939, and with world headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the Institute for Food Technologists is a not-for-profit international scientific society with 22,000 individual members working in food science, technology and related professions in industry, academia and government. As the society for food science and technology, IFT brings sound science to the public discussion of food issues. For more information, visit www.IFT.org.®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow
For Editorial Information:
Jennifer Sigsworth
Dow Wolff Cellulosics
Marissa Peterson
Gibbs & Soell Public Relations
mpeterson@gibbs-soell.com
