Salt to soda: Cola is the new frontier
May 17, 2008
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Now that he has solved the puzzle of how to double-fortify salt, Levente Diosady has turned his attention to protein powders.
"We're trying to develop them for use instead of meat to get better nutrition to poor people," he says.
"Energy drinks and protein-enhanced products, those types of things."
Diosady and his team of graduate students are working on a soft drink that is as nutritious as milk. They call the beverage LiveAde.
Currently, many developing countries are supplied with powdered milk to help boost people's nutrition.
But Diosady points out that powdered milk must be mixed with clean water – which is not always available – for the reconstituted milk to be safe and palatable.
And, he adds, powdered milk does not benefit those who are lactose intolerant.
LiveAde, on the other hand, could be a safe and tasty way to get nutrition, says Diosady.
"Since it will arrive in bottles, it will be safe water," he says.
"It's all about coming up with different approaches to how we help people."
LiveAde looks and tastes like a typical soft drink – Diosady and his team settled on a cola-like drink after testing several fruit-flavours – but includes tasteless, soluble plant protein, which he has patented, along with added vitamins and minerals.
The drink will be ready to test in the field by next year, and Diosady says it could be ready for production in five years, if a commercial partner wanted to join the project.
Perhaps best of all, says Diosady, LiveAde's vitamin and nutrient contents could be tailored to a specific target population in need.
Megan Ogilvie
Toronto Star