The client, a nutraceutical startup based in Vancouver, sought to enhance one of their key algae-based products. Their goal was to improve the nutritional content by incorporating freeze-drying technology, recognizing that freeze drying helps preserve nutrients by using a low-thermal drying process, which minimizes the degradation that typically occurs with heat-based methods.
To ensure the success of this new approach, the client partnered with Vancouver Freeze Dry (VFD), leveraging their expertise in freeze-drying processes. VFD initially assisted with bench-scale tests to verify that the freeze-dried algae product would indeed retain a higher level of nutrients compared to traditional drying methods. The results were promising, confirming that freeze-drying preserved more of the algae’s natural nutritional benefits, such as vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids.
Encouraged by the results, the client decided to move forward with VFD for full-scale production. VFD’s advanced technology and precise handling of the freeze-drying process allowed for the mass production of the algae-based product with optimized nutrient retention, meeting the client’s standards for quality and efficacy. The client now offers a superior algae-based product, backed by scientific testing and enhanced by VFD’s cutting-edge freeze-drying technology, ensuring it stands out in the competitive nutraceutical market.
The algae product is wild-harvested, meaning it contains significant amounts of unwanted sand, ocean debris, and other impurities tangled in the algae. Traditional fruit and vegetable washing processes were insufficient to thoroughly clean the product due to the nature of the algae’s texture and the debris it accumulated during harvesting.
To address this challenge, VFD devised a comprehensive solution for the pretreatment process. VFD developed a specialized washing system to effectively remove sand, debris, and other contaminants. This ensured that the final product was clean, safe, and ready for the freeze-drying process.
In addition to the washing challenge, the client had specific aesthetic and textural requirements for the algae product. They wanted to preserve the pale color and coarse particle size that is characteristic of premium nutraceutical products, ensuring that the product maintained a natural and appealing appearance while meeting the desired texture for easy consumption.
VFD tailored a solution to achieve these goals, optimizing the freeze-drying parameters to maintain the algae’s pale hue and coarse particle structure. By adjusting the freezing, drying, and grinding processes, VFD ensured that the final product had the perfect balance of color and texture, meeting the client’s specifications while preserving the nutritional integrity of the algae.
With VFD’s expertise, the client was able to launch a high-quality, well-cleaned, and aesthetically pleasing algae-based nutraceutical product that stood out in the market for both its purity and its visual appeal.