Someone on the GalaGen forum at Yahoo has posted an article from a Minn. St. Paul business paper about functional foods which contains information about Basics Plus.
Found in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, July 13, 1998
'Functional food' trend brings a host of local companies to the table
Nutraceuticals feed change
Tim Johnson Staff Reporter
Nestled beside the ho-hum milk products at Byerly's is Basics Plus, a yogurt-like drink that boasts it "supports the body's natural microflora."
Microflora? Is that something we want to be supporting?
Definitely yes; by maintaining gastrointestinal health though the ingestion of dairy colostrum antibodies, the product helps support the body's immune system.
The somewhat-esoteric labeling -- a result of government regulations -- might give the impression that Basics Plus, created by an Arden Hills-based company, has all the taste sensation of a piece of cardboard.
Apparently, a lot of shoppers don't agree. When it was offered as a sample, a worker at Byerly's reports, Basics Plus "flew off the shelves."
Industry observers say it's only a matter of time before such products -- called nutraceuticals or functional foods because they address certain bodily needs -- attract more consumers, eventually making the transition from natural-foods stores to major supermarkets.
"The baby-boomer generation is really driving this," said Mark Finney, CEO at Larex Inc., a Roseville-based firm that produces a fiber-rich compound from trees that, sold in powder and capsule form, promotes a healthy colon and stimulates the immune system. "They're taking these things rather than being overprescribed and taking different medications."
Nutraceutical proponents say the industry will revolutionize the way food is grown and processed in the U.S.; for some companies, it could also shake up the traditional way of doing business, as pharmaceutical and food companies seek alliances to bridge their respective expertise.
I like the part about Basics Plus flying off the shelves.
Mark |
