UQ probiotics innovation boosts health benefits of milk and juice

Researchers at The University of Queensland (UQ) have developed the world’s first  non-fermented, multi-strain probiotic milk and juice which aims to offer more health benefits from consuming fortified juice, milk and other calcium-rich dairy products.

UQ’s main commercialisation company, UniQuest, has formed Progel Pty Ltd to commercialise the novel food processing technique invented by Professor Bhesh Bhandari from UQ’s School of Agriculture  and Food Sciences.

With a $250,000 Commercialisation Australia grant, Progel is developing a range of new functional milk and juice products with levels of probiotics and omega-3 not currently available in any milk or food products. The innovative technology uses only safe food ingredients including alginate, commonly used in ice cream. Alginate is derived from seaweed and is sustainably harvested.

“Adding probiotics to commonly consumed products like milk and juice can improve gut health and digestion, and help lessen the effects of lactose-intolerance for milk consumers. However, these products with probiotics tend to go sour within days,” explained Professor Bhandari.

“Meanwhile, residual smell and taste are common in food products fortified with fish-based omega-3 oils, even though existing products only have small amounts and therefore fewer health benefits.

“Products made possible by the Progel technology will bring the many health benefits of probiotics and omega-3 to consumers who do not regularly consume dairy products. Progel ingredients also include calcium, giving juices many of the benefits of dairy products, such as yoghurt.

“The key advantage of Progel ingredients is that they don’t affect the quality, taste or smell of the milk, and products containing the Progel encapsulation technology can offer sufficient levels of active nutrients to provide a beneficial source of probiotics and omega-3 to consumers,” Professor Bhandari said.

UniQuest Managing Director, David Henderson, said the Commercialisation Australia grant will help Progel develop new prototype functional food products in partnership with food and ingredient manufacturers, who will be evaluating the technology for commercial viability.

“Milk is a major source of nutrition for many world populations. With the opportunity to develop into a successful product range, the Progel technology could become another ‘world-first’ from an Australian university research and industry partnership, impacting positively on communities world-wide, as well as boosting local and international dairy food markets,” Mr Henderson said.

The healthcare-based applications for Progel’s encapsulation technology are among several commercial-ready innovations UniQuest will be promoting at the invitation-only JP Morgan Global Healthcare Conference in San Francisco this week. The four-day conference is one of the industry’s largest and features presentations by some 300 private and public companies.

Media enquiries: Leanne Wyvill +61 7 3365 4037, 0409 767 199 or l.wyvill@uniquest.com.au
Commercial enquiries: Cameron Turner +61 7 3365 4037, 0437 448 773 or c.turner@uniquest.com.au