Cargill Completing OptaFlex Manufacturing Expansion

Cargill Completing OptaFlex Manufacturing Expansion

DENVERCargill completedengineering for an expansion of its manufacturing capabilities for OptaFlexnatural chondroitin sulfate at its facility here. The expansion is expected tobe completed by the fall of 2005. According to the Minneapolis-based company,demand for the ingredient has been increasing rapidly since OptaFlex wasself-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) in a number of food andbeverage categories.

Ted Ziemann, president of Cargill Health & FoodTechnologies (www.cargillhft.com), the joint health market is an importanttarget for the company. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are cornerstonesof the joint health market, and Cargill has a strong and growing market presencewith both products, he said. In addition, Cargill has a secure, integratedsupply chain of North American raw materials to ensure reliable supply.