November 10, 2014

FRAmelco enters into business agreement with Sustainable Nutrition

Dutch feed additive company FRAmelco has entered into a business agreement with Sustainable Nutrition.

Sustainable Nutrition was founded in 2013 by a team of managers formerly with FRAmelco. The company features a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the highest quality monoglycerides of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). In addition the facility is designed to esterify other fatty acids into mono- or triglycerides.

The most prominent natural fats rich in MCFAs are coconut oil and palm kernel oil. MCFAs (6-14 carbon atoms) are known to have a strong antibacterial effect. Being saturated fatty acids, their absorption is slow and they are able to reach the lower intestines. As such they may prevent pathogenic colonisation in the intestinal tract.

Although MCFAs serve as a very potent antibacterial agent, research (Kabara et al., 1972, Nihei et al., 2004, Batovska et al., 2008) has proven that monoglycerides of these MCFAs are even more effective as a feed additive. These monoglycerides are newly formed molecules based on a technology of esterifying one MCFA-chain with glycerol. Its chemical characteristics allow monoglycerides to be active in four different environments: water, feed, stomach, and intestinal tract. Moreover, monoglycerides of MCFAs are heat stable, non-corrosive and do not have a negative influence on palatability.