Research into healthy products from waste streams

Dutch and German companies and knowledge institutions are working together in a cross-border search, led by the lead partner Hochschule Niederrhein; the poject SUN (Sustainable and Natural side streams), for making healthy products from side streams. Many waste streams are released in the production of our convenience foods. Think of carrot peelings or tomato caps. These are all food-grade products that are currently disposed of. By making (storable) semi-finished products from these waste streams, these products can be reintroduced into the food chain at a later stage.

Together with the project partners, the Food Claims Centre is investigating which by-products are interesting to valorise. Safety issues concerning contamination, allergens, storage and transport conditions are investigated. By clarifying the legal perspective at the EU level, it is expected to be able to provide guidelines on how to limit the potential risks during production.

Brightlabs in Venlo will analyse the quantities of bioactive substances in the residual streams, both before and after the innovative drying methods of the firms GKS and TUN Food Innovation to a semi-finished or finished product. This makes it possible to demonstrate that the healthy ingredients are still present.

Partner Liquid Salads uses the creativity in researching the possibilities for types of semi-products and their preservation. The aim is to use the semi-products in existing or new food products. 

Researchers from Hochschule Niederrhein work primarily in this project on the extraction and stabilisation of natural colourings, aromas and thickeners from the by-products.

brightlands.com