For Release: IMMEDIATE
Contact:
Courtney Jacobs
801-538-0777
BI Nutraceuticals Adds Third Steam Sterilization Unit to Support Growing Demand for Clean, Organic Sterilization
The Company’s Proprietary Protexx HP® Process is the
Industry’s Only Species-Specific, Organic Steam
Sterilization Method
LONG BEACH, CA, November 18, 2008—BI Nutraceuticals today
announced that it has installed a third steam sterilization unit
(Steam 3), located at its headquarters in Long Beach, Calif., to
meet growing demand from its customers for species-specific,
organic steam sterilization of raw materials. This third unit
will allow BI to steam sterilize more than 15,000 metric tons of
herbal botanical, spice and food ingredients annually. Steam 3
joins Steam 1, the industry’s first organic, species-specific,
high-heat, low-moisture sterilization process in Long Beach and
Steam 2 located in BI’s wholly owned processing facility in
Suzhou, China. BI’s China facility ensures that all ingredients
purchased in the region are free of contaminants prior to being shipped
to the U.S.
"The FDA’s ban on sterilizing raw materials with ethylene oxide and irradiation, as well as the phasing in of the new cGMP’s, has created an increased demand for BI’s proprietary steam sterilization services," stated George Pontiakos, President and CEO, BI Nutraceuticals. "With the addition of a third steam sterilization unit, BI can more effectively meet the demand for our steam sterilized botanical ingredients, as well as offer our customers in the food industry toll sterilization services for food ingredients and spices."
The GMP-compliant Protexx HP system uses super-heated dry steam to reduce microbiological load, yielding results comparable to treating ingredients with ethylene oxide or irradiation, but without the potential regulatory issues. With more than six years of experience in using high-heat, low-moisture, steam sterilization, BI now has over 700 species and genius specific computer protocols to systematically sterilize its vast catalogue of botanical ingredients. These controls give BI the unique ability to sterilize its high quality ingredients while maintaining volatile oils and color integrity.
About BI Nutraceuticals
BI Nutraceuticals is a global full-service supplier of dietary
supplement and functional food and beverage ingredients including
whole herb powders and teas, standardized and drug ratio extracts,
custom blends, vitamins, minerals, drum to hopper custom blends,
granular ingredients and other specialty processes including time
released and encapsulated ingredients. Since 2002, BI has been an
innovator in steam sterilization and the company’s Protexx
HP process is currently the industry’s only species-specific,
organic sterilization method. All BI ingredients undergo stringent
quality analysis that includes heavy metal, pesticide and irradiation
testing. All herbal powder ingredients are also tested under the
company’s Identilok® species identification process. The
company has also developed a proprietary process, UltraHD®, which
creates high-density herbal powders allowing for superior flow and
less dusting during the manufacturing process. For more information,
visit
www.binutraceuticals.com.
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