High tech food plant opens in Palmerston North
22 Jul, 2008
Source: Massey University, July 2008
High tech ice cream and freeze dried kiwifruit were on the menu last week at the opening of a new food technology plant in Palmerston North.
Based at Massey University, the plant is the most advanced facility of its kind in Australasia and home to the largest cluster of food technologists in New Zealand. It has chemistry labs, food product development labs and human nutrition clinical labs. It will be used for research and teaching as well as being available for commercial food companies.
A nutraceutical peach flavoured ice cream was served at the opening, which had been specially manufactured for the occasion. The ice cream contained omega-3 fish oil, which is believed to have health benefits such as improving neurological function and relieving arthritis.
Creator of the ice cream Amit Taneja said it contains about 60 milligrams of omega-3 per serve, or around 10 percent of the recommended daily amount.
A microencapsulation technology invented by a team at the Riddet Institute protects the fish oil from oxidization and masks the flavour. Researchers tried a number of different flavours before deciding on peach, Amit said.
