The first step in the design process consists of a “consultation” where we establish what claims are desired on the finished product. We can of course also suggest a nutritional claim with respect to vitamins, minerals and other functional ingredients that will make the product more attractive to the target market. We will also ask for some details about the finished product itself, the process it undergoes and expected shelf life. This is all carried out with close consultation with the applicable legislation to ensure regulatory requirements are met.
Armed with this information we will in the first instance make an “on paper” proposal drawing on our experience. This proposal will also include supporting documents such as MSDS, allergen information, nutritional information and statements regarding the suitability for special dietary requirements such as Kosher, Halal, Vegan etc.
If everything looks OK then a sample can be manufactured in our laboratory or pilot plant to the same exacting standards as we normally apply to our commercial production processes for customer approval. Following the results of these trials we can then make further refinements if necessary or proceed to commercialization.
This is all of course backed up with continuing support from the New Product Development and Quality teams at Vitablend.
Development of nutritional premixes is not an exact science, many vitamins are inherently unstable, production processes are variable and interactions with other ingredients present are possible. The new product development team draws on its experience to make a product that accounts for these variables and by selecting the most appropriate ingredients to minimise impact on taste and texture.