FFIPE Functional food ingredients from Pectin derivatives

The current project is framed around the realisation of a commercial opportunity to produce low molecular weight polysaccharides (LMWP) from Pectin for application in food and health and wellness products. It addresses the requirements of a consortium of SMEs  that are seeking the technological know-how and scientific validation to develop novel higher value products from their basic resources.Acquisition of this knowledge will render significant competitive and commercial gain through the development of innovative processing technology, novel higher value LMWP products and access to premium markets.

to exploit the use of Pectin effectively in this area a number of technological and scientific problems need to be solved and these are addressed within the current proposal. The S & T objectives may be summarised as follows

1. To develop novel LMWP derivatives of pectin
2. To screen the novel products for potential beneficial effects on gut microflora composition (bifidogenic activity) and bacterial metabolism (SCFA)
3. To provide evidence of efficacy of selected LMWP in human volunteers in terms of bifidogenic activity, gut health to generate additional evidence for production of a beneficial SCFA profile within the colon using a novel gut model system

Low molecular weight, pectin, gut health, prebiotics

3 RTD Performers in UK/Ireland have been involved with a similar EU SME funded project
  - 2 Universities and 1 private contract research provider specilaized in polysacharide chemistry
one SME's in Ireland, involved with mineral based health supplements