Cargill has invested in a new company launched by Kansas State University scientists to develop foods with higher nutrition value, joining the stampede of companies trying to coax more nutritional goodness out of foods and beverages.\r\n\r\nThe Kansas company, known as NutriJoy, will seek to develop a variety of products using a technology donation from Procter & Gamble Co., Cargill said Tuesday. Minnetonka-based Cargill didn't reveal the amount of its investment, but it said it would have a seat on NutriJoy's board of directors.\r\n\r\nThat company's first product is a calcium-fortified milk and juice beverage called Cal-C that was created in 2000. Cargill's financial support will help NutriJoy take that product from four test markets to a national rollout, the companies said.\r\n\r\nFood companies throughout North America and Europe are in a race to develop products that have greater nutritional value or special properties that aid people with health and dietary interests. Overall food sales have been soft in mature markets, but new products and products with health benefits are winning sales.\r\n\r\nBill Brady, a spokesman for Cargill, said a Food System Design group works with food industry customers to produce ingredient breakthroughs. Its Wilbur Chocolate unit in Pennsylvania, for instance, now markets sugar-free coatings for chocolate manufacturers. And Cargill's Health & Food Technologies unit makes an Oliggo-Fiber brand of inulin, a natural soluble fiber that food and beverage makers can use in making low-calorie or diabetic-suitable foods.\r\n\r\nSuch food industry efforts are gaining momentum in industrialized countries as American and European as health officials raise awareness of obesity in their general populations, and as the public learns more about fats, cholesterol and the health benefits of food ingredients.\r\n\r\nMarybeth Thorsgaard, spokeswoman for General Mills, said her company has had food scientists working at the Golden Valley firm's Bell Laboratories on these food issues for more than 20 years. General Mills has supported youth nutrition and fitness programs dating back to the Wheaties Sports Federation in 1958, she said.\r\n\r\nKellogg, General Mills' chief rival in the breakfast cereal business, acknowledged this week it is trying to reduce the fat in its Keebler brand of cookies. The Just-food.com industry newsletter notes that most of Kellogg's core products, such as cereals, are already low-fat.\r\n\r\nLydia Botham, spokeswoman for Land O'Lakes in Arden Hills, said the dairy foods cooperative has offered ""light"" dairy products for about 20 years, including reduced-fat, reduced-calorie and reduced-sodium products. Dairy products are scrutinized and developed for enhanced calcium needs as well, she said.\r\n\r\nThe race to the supermarket shelves with health-conscious products spawns new companies as well as new offerings from established firms. David Rowley, a St. Paul food science consultant and former Pillsbury scientist, started Benefruit Fruit Juice Co. in December to make four types of natural fruit juice products that are now sold in food co-ops and natural food stores in the Twin Cities.\r\n\r\nThe Fruituoso brand raspberry, cherry, blueberry and grape bottled drinks contain a pound of fresh fruit in each bottle, thus representing four of the five daily fruit servings recommended for various cardiovascular and other healthy diets.\r\n\r\nRowley said he hopes to achieve distribution throughout the Midwest within two years, and national rollout within five years.Pioneer Press/Lee Egerstrom
