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ACREC Solutions By Annel K. Greene, PhD, Professor and Center Director Clemson University Animal Co-Products Research and Education Center Novel Natural Antioxidants from Poultry Blood Drs. Alexey Vertegel (left) and Vladimir Reukov. Photo by Rayleen A. Hendrix Antioxidants maintain freshness and quality in animal and pet foods while preventing fat rancidity. The majority of currently used antioxidants are synthetic; however, negative public perception for some synthetic antioxidants is causing a shift in consumer demand toward naturally derived antioxidants. As a result, natural antioxidants command a premium in the pet food industry. Naturally derived antioxidants, such as tocopherols (Vitamin E), are currently used, but are expensive and often not as effective as synthetic antioxidants. Clemson University Animal Co-Products Research and Education Center (ACREC) researchers Drs. Alexey Vertegel and Vladimir Reukov have isolated an inexpensive and very effective natural antioxidant through a proprietary method of extraction from animal or poultry blood. The researchers have created a simple process of producing the antioxidant they named “Prot-X” that is as efficient as synthetic antioxidants while at the same time considerably cheaper than other natural antioxidants. Results of studies comparing Prot-X to commercially available antioxidants were impressive. In a cat food study, Prot-X performed equally well as ethoxyquin over 90 days storage at 37 degrees Celsius (figure 1). Vertegel and Reukov have tested Prot-X versus other antioxidants using a variety of testing methods and in a variety of food models including chicken fat, cod liver oil, ground beef, ground chicken, and other products. Prot-X was found to provide equal or better protection compared to other antioxidants. Preliminary efficacy studies indicate Prot-X will perform as a robust pet food antioxidant for at least nine months at room temperature. Studies are underway to validate longer shelf life of up to 24 months as desired by the pet food industry. The extraction process involves using chemicals that are generally recognized as safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The researchers filed a provisional patent application in 2012 on the process that has since been converted into a utility application with the Patent Corporation Treaty (international) option. The researchers have started a company named VRM Labs to pursue commercialization of the developed technology. As per the ACREC license agreement with the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), the technology was reported to Chart 1. Efficacy of Prot-X as an antioxidant in cat food stored for up to 90 days at 37 degrees Celsius (C) Note: Lower values indicate better antioxidant protection. Controls included untreated cat food held at 4 degrees C (refrigerated) and at 37 degrees C storage. Refrigeration protected the product from oxidation for up to 20 days. Prot-X performed similarly to ethoxyquin as an antioxidant and was protective at 90 days, which corresponds to approximately nine months shelf life at room temperature. ppm = parts per million FPRF by the Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF). FPRF chose not to exercise its option to negotiate an exclusive license and encouraged CURF to negotiate a license with the researchers in order to get the product into the market as quickly as possible. Upon the advice of FPRF Research Director Dr. David Meeker, the Clemson researchers teamed up with Dr. David Meisinger to develop VRM Labs. In December 2013, Clemson University executed an exclusive option agreement with VRM Labs, which is working diligently to build a start-up company to produce the antioxidant as a preservative for use by the rendering, animal feed, and pet food industries.   Funding from FPRF through ACREC has lead to the initial development of the extraction process and demonstration of efficacy of the product as an antioxidant. The VRM Labs team was recently awarded a $50,000 Innovation Corps grant from 56  April 2014  Render www.rendermagazine.com


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