Earlier this month, key members of the Bioenergy Life Science team flew into Charlotte, NC to participate in The Research Chefs Association’s Annual Conference & Culinology Expo. This is the only research and development conference focused on the fast-growing discipline of “culinology” – which the RCA explains is the blending of culinary arts and food science. For us, it was an ideal opportunity to talk with food industry leaders about why they should consider incorporating Bioenergy Ribose in their food and beverage formulations.
Attendees were excited to learn about the ribose energy alternative. “We discussed how ribose can be added to food and beverages, helping to rebuild ATP and make people feel better,” comments Mark Johnson, Vice President of Sales, Functional Foods, who staffed the Bioenergy Life Science booth with Product Development Manager Donna O’Connor.
One of the questions heard throughout the event was, “What is Ribose and will it help us fit a need with today’s consumers?” People were also were very interested in learning how ribose can help them grow their business. There were also a lot of technical and formulation questions.
Explains Johnson: “From college students balancing heavy workloads to adults juggling multiple responsibilities, our everyday life can be draining. More of us are looking for natural foods and beverages that boost and maintain our energy levels without the eventual crash caused by energy stimulants.”
With caffeine and other stimulants coming under increased scrutiny, Bioenergy Ribose is an ideal ingredient for energy beverages. There are also significant opportunities to include ribose in mainstream foods for an energy sustaining benefit. “We talked with R&D and innovation directors about including ribose in granola bars, cereal, energy bars, beverages and even beef jerky,” he confirms. “It was exciting to talk with people representing large food companies as well as smaller companies.”
Johnson told the RCA attendees how ribose fills a need in the functional food and beverage markets. “When we explained how fatigue was one the top health issues in the country, people really saw and understood the benefits of ribose,” he recalls.
The problem with high-caffeine and high-sugar energizers is that they act as a stimulant on users, but then cause them to crash. Unlike most sugars (fructose, sucrose and glucose) which fuel energy recycling, Bioenergy Ribose drives energy maintenance and recovery by actually making energy compounds and keeping them in muscle cells. Bioenergy Ribose also has a negative glycemic index and does not raise blood sugar levels like most sugars.
Bioenergy Ribose is on many major food companies’ “Approved Supplier List” with rigid and consistent standards. It is Kosher certified, Halal, allergen free and non-GMO.