GMW: Fish blood the key to low-fat ice cream

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GMW: Fish blood the key to low-fat ice cream

" GM WATCH " <info

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:03:11 +0100

 

 

 

 

 

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Fish blood the key to low-fat ice cream

The Daily Mail, 23rd June 2006

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article\

_id=392219 & in_page_id=1774

 

Wall's is planning to use a protein originally isolated from fish blood

to create the world's first ice creams using genetically-modified

technology.

 

Its parent company, Unilever, claims the technique will allow it to

develop low-calorie, low-fat ice creams. It could be used to create new

versions of best-sellers such as Cornetto, Magnum and Carte D'Or.

 

But using GM technology may be at odds with a desire by consumers for a

more natural 'real' food diet, where artificial additives are removed.

 

However, Unilever believes the benefits of low-fat ice cream could

outweigh any doubts about GM.

 

The blood protein originally comes from the eel-like ocean pout fish,

which uses it to survive extreme cold at the bottom of the seas.

 

The protein has been chemically sythensised and can be grown in vast

vats which produce a brownish liquid. This is added to the ice cream and

lowers the temperature at which ice crystals form and the shape they

take up.

 

It is claimed a stiff and solid mixture can then be created by using

less cream or fat.

 

An application to use the new technology, involving the GM process, has

been lodged with the Food Standards Agency which is inviting comment.

 

Unilever said the process has already been approved in the U.S. and

other parts of the world.

 

It stresses that no GM material remains in the final product, rather

the process used to create the protein involves a GM element.

 

But Friends of the Earth food campaigner Clare Oxborrow said: 'At a

time when more and more consumers want to choose unadulterated food, it's

disappointing to see Unilever investing in this unnecessary development

in overly processed food.'

 

 

 

 

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