BENEFICIAL BACTERIA ME-3 DISCOVERED BY UT SCIENTISTS MAKE FINNISH MARKET
20.01.2006
In developing the product line, the company worked hand in hand with researchers from the Universities of Tartu and Turku as well as the product development firm OY Foodwest, to adapt the beneficial effects of the bacteria to the Finns’ tastes and the possibilities of the production process. The first to hit supermarket shelves were low-lactose strawberry drinking yoghurt and banana-vanilla drinking yoghurt, enriched with ME-3 to ease digestion, help prevent digestive tract infection and decrease the risk of ateriosclerosis. In May, the product family will add a variety of yoghurt and quark cream blends.
According to Jukka Lähteenkorva, head of the product developer Foodwest, this is a milestone event since it is likely to encourage other small producers to invest in development work. “Maitokolmio is a good example of how using the competence of a development centre allows smaller firms to thrive among the giants. State support by TEKES and local authorities creates tangible added value to both business and the consumers of health foods,” Lähteenkorva said.
Mr Juha Murto-Koivisto, Director of Maitokolmio, explained that another novelty for Finnish consumers will be the introduction of half-litre tetra cartons. Drinking yoghurt, which so far was sold in plastic bottles only will now be available in tetra cartons, which is good news for green-minded consumers.
Maitokolmio is the first foreign company to market products containing special antioxidising lactobacillus bacteria ME-3 that help to prevent intestinal problems. At the same time the University will continue its collaboration with the Estonian company Tallinn Piimatööstus plc which has been marketing the product line Hellus (Tenderness) in Estonia already since May 2003.
A variety of collaboration partners will help UT to offer products enriched with beneficial bacteria in a further 14 countries where patent applications have been filed.
The authors of the discovery are Marika Mikelsaar, Mihkel Zilmer, Tiiu Kullisaar, Heidi Annuk and Epp Songisepp. The applied research on ME-3 at UT was supported by the Technology Agency, a predecessor of the Enterprise Estonia Foundation.
Illari Lään
Head, UT Public Relations and Information Office
Additional information: Ms Jane Saatre, UT Institute of Technology, tel. +372 737 4804
According to Jukka Lähteenkorva, head of the product developer Foodwest, this is a milestone event since it is likely to encourage other small producers to invest in development work. “Maitokolmio is a good example of how using the competence of a development centre allows smaller firms to thrive among the giants. State support by TEKES and local authorities creates tangible added value to both business and the consumers of health foods,” Lähteenkorva said.
Mr Juha Murto-Koivisto, Director of Maitokolmio, explained that another novelty for Finnish consumers will be the introduction of half-litre tetra cartons. Drinking yoghurt, which so far was sold in plastic bottles only will now be available in tetra cartons, which is good news for green-minded consumers.
Maitokolmio is the first foreign company to market products containing special antioxidising lactobacillus bacteria ME-3 that help to prevent intestinal problems. At the same time the University will continue its collaboration with the Estonian company Tallinn Piimatööstus plc which has been marketing the product line Hellus (Tenderness) in Estonia already since May 2003.
A variety of collaboration partners will help UT to offer products enriched with beneficial bacteria in a further 14 countries where patent applications have been filed.
The authors of the discovery are Marika Mikelsaar, Mihkel Zilmer, Tiiu Kullisaar, Heidi Annuk and Epp Songisepp. The applied research on ME-3 at UT was supported by the Technology Agency, a predecessor of the Enterprise Estonia Foundation.
Illari Lään
Head, UT Public Relations and Information Office
Additional information: Ms Jane Saatre, UT Institute of Technology, tel. +372 737 4804