Taiyo International: Providing the Whole Package

Since 1946, Japan-based Taiyo Kagaku has been working with the food industry to provide ingredient solutions for a variety of finished products. In 1994, the company established a U.S. subsidiary under the name Taiyo International in Minneapolis, MN. Today, while its foundation is emulsifiers, the main focus for the company is its functional health ingredients that it sells to dietary supplement and food companies across the globe. But for Taiyo, its efforts go beyond the ingredients. “We are a leader in the development and production of functional ingredients,” said Scott Smith, vice president, Taiyo International. “We don’t just supply the ingredient, we supply everything that goes along with it.” This extra work Taiyo carries out for its customers includes everything from toxicology testing to marketing development to regulatory assistance. It is this comprehensive support of its ingredients that has made the company a major global player in dietary supplements and functional foods.

Currently the company supplies four major branded ingredients to the food and dietary supplement sectors. Suntheanine is the trade name for Taiyo’s patented, pure form of L-theanine. According to the company, human clinical trials have shown Suntheanine to promote an alert state of relaxation without causing drowsiness. Additional human clinical research suggests Suntheanine may also have applications in improving the quality of sleep, diminishing normal symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), improving learning performance, heightening mental acuity, promoting concentration, reducing negative side effects of caffeine and supporting the immune system.

In early 2007, Taiyo received a “no objection” letter for Suntheanine in reference to its GRAS status. According to Mr. Smith, this was a significant milestone for the company. “The GRAS no objection letter was a big deal for us. Once we received that from FDA we really started seeing a lot of interest from beverage companies,” he said. “I think Suntheanine will find a place in the next generation of energy beverages because it can make you alert, but also focused and relaxed at the same time.”

Sunfiber is Taiyo’s all-natural, soluble dietary fiber derived from hy-drolyzed guar gum. It delivers not only high fiber content, but also ex-hibits excellent stability with respect to pH, heat and freeze/thaw conditions. As far as health benefits are concerned, the company claims that it is clinically proven to lower glycemic index, improve mineral absorption and maintain digestive health.

SunActive FE is the company’s iron delivery system for use in foods, beverages and dietary supplements. In terms of its characteristics, it causes no precipitation, iron flavor or change in color. It’s also stable against heat, salt, pH and oxidation. Also very important, SunActive FE has a mild effect on the gastrointestinal system.

Obtained from the leaf of green tea (Camellia sinensis), Taiyo’s Sunphenon line consists of a series of highly purified green tea polyphenols rich in natural catechins, which have been shown to have numerous biochemical and physiological benefits, including antioxidant, anti-microbial, deodorant and thermogenic (fat burning) activities.

Besides its ingredient offerings, Taiyo is also very much involved in research. For the future, Mr. Smith says the company plans to continue supporting clinical studies in order to further support its products.

Discussing the future, Mr. Smith said he sees a merging of industries. “The industry is really changing. The lines are blurring between dietary supplements and functional foods. I think in 10 years we will be talking about one industry instead of two,” he commented. “As the industry continues to mature, it will definitely need companies like Taiyo to stay ahead of the curve.”—R.W.

Taiyo International, Inc.
5960 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Telephone: 763-398-3003
Fax: 763-398-3007
E-mail: sales@taiyoint.com
Website: www.taiyointernational.com