Ingredients that may confer health benefits to the consumer—often called functional food ingredients—may also benefit from application of ABN technologies. Examples of these ingredients include, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, essential oils and carotenoids. These materials are often subject to degradation due to temperature, UV light and oxidation. In some cases, the ingredients have limited bioavailability thus diminishing the potential benefit.
The utility of ABN technologies has been demonstrated in this important market. Two illustrative examples are noted below.