Fruit d’Or Finds Insoluble Cranberry PACs

By Robby Gardner, associate editor

Cranberry products specialist Fruit d’Or Nutraceuticals (Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, QC, Canada) claims it has isolated and quantified insoluble proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberry. Cranberry is known for its content of soluble PACs, but the fruit was previously believed to be devoid of insoluble versions.

With its discovery, Fruit d’Or and its collaborator Complete Phytochemical Solutions (Cambridge, WI) now have a proven method for analyzing and quantifying both types of PACs-not just the soluble ones, as other methods allow. The two companies intend to publish their methodology in a peer-reviewed journal.

Testing with this method also indicates that Fruit d’Or’s cranberry powders contain especially significant amounts of insoluble PACs, and the implication could be a host of new product applications-including gut health products-and a new approach to selecting optimal cranberry ingredients.

“Due to lack of standardization amongst cranberry products, this methodology is needed in the cranberry industry to educate consumers,” said Fruit d’Or director of sales Stephen Lukawski. “Companies can now reformulate their cranberry products with a better understanding of what to look for when purchasing cranberry powders. This opens doors for a better understanding of all natural cranberry powders versus cranberry extracts.”

Fruit d'Or supplies a variety of cranberry products, including organic whole cranberry powder and cranberry protein.