Novozymes, Inc. Wins Technology Of The Year Award
FRANKLINTON, N.C., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Novozymes, the biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms, today announced that INDUSTRYWEEK magazine named the company's enzymatic interesterification process one of six Technologies of the Year for 2005. The development is a food-processing innovation that uses enzymes to develop healthier fats and oils for use in margarine, baking and confectionery applications.
The 13th annual INDUSTRYWEEK Technology and Innovation Awards celebrates outstanding achievements and innovations in technology. A profile of Novozymes' enzymatic interesterification process will be featured in the December issue of INDUSTRYWEEK and online at www.industryweek.com.
Enzymatic interesterification is a bio-based innovation that employs an enzyme - Lipozyme(R) TL IM - as an alternative to conventional partial hydrogenation technique that produces large amounts of trans fats. Earlier this year, Novozymes and its partner, Archer Daniels Midland Company, won a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for this advancement.
"We are delighted that INDUSTRYWEEK has recognized our enzymatic interesterification technology as one of the year's leading innovations," stated Stevens W. Pearce, staff scientist at Novozymes North America. "This revolutionary development that helps deliver healthier food products while reducing the environmental impact of traditional production techniques is yet another milestone in Novozymes' portfolio of biological solutions that improve everyday lives."
According to Pearce, replacing partially hydrogenated oils with interesterified products can enhance public health by reducing the consumption of trans fatty acids while increasing the use of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential parts of a healthy diet. "The Food and Drug Administration estimates that listing trans fat on food labels would save between 2,000 and 5,600 lives per year as people either choose healthier foods or manufacturers improve their recipes to eliminate trans fat," he said. "Enzymatic interesterification helps food processors avoid the formation of trans fatty acids while retaining flavor and texture."
Trans fatty acids can lead to increased serum levels of LDL cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol. When too much "bad" cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain resulting in atherosclerosis. Trans fatty acids can also lead to decreased levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack. The presence of both High LDL and low HDL levels in the blood stream are strong indicators for heart disease.
INDUSTRYWEEK noted that enzymatic interesterification offers important environmental benefits, as well. Unlike typical oil processing, the process uses no harsh chemicals and it does not require hydrogen or sodium methoxide, both highly flammable and reactive chemicals. Further, the process generates no wastewater or solid waste and reduces the loss of edible oils. Oils are processed in milder conditions so that nutrients in oil are better preserved.
The INDUSTRYWEEK Technology and Innovation Awards are designed to recognize products the represent significant achievement in technology spanning the entire range of science and engineering. Products are nominated by INDUSTRYWEEK readers and judged by the magazine's editors.
About INDUSTRYWEEK
INDUSTRYWEEK, published by Penton Media, Inc., is the only magazine dedicated to covering the complexities of managing a manufacturing company in today's new economy. Now in its 34th year, IW has an audience of 200,000 subscribers. Copies of IW can be ordered through Hallmark customer service at 847-763-9670 or email your request to industryweek@halldata.com.
About Penton Media
Penton Media (www.penton.com) is a diversified business-to-business media company that provides high-quality content and integrated marketing solutions to 12 diverse industries. Founded in 1892, Penton produces market-focused magazines, trade shows, conferences and online media, and provides a broad range of custom media and direct marketing solutions for business-to-business customers worldwide.
Novozymes is the biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms. Using nature's own technologies, we continuously expand the frontiers of biological solutions to improve industrial performance everywhere. Headquartered in Denmark, Novozymes employs more than 4,000 people in 30 countries. Novozymes produces and sells more than 600 products in 130 countries. Novozymes A/S' B shares are listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange. For further company information, visit Novozymes on the Internet at www.novozymes.com.
NovozymesCONTACT: Media, Yokima Cureton of Novozymes North America, Inc.,+1-919-494-3209, fax, +1-919-494-3450, or yokc@novozymes.com