All about the antioxidants in your Queal meals.

What is it?

Rosemary extracts are produced from the rosemary plant. The phenolic compounds from this plant are responsible for its antioxidant property, its connections are fat-soluble. The extract is stable/heat resistant up to 200 degrees and one of the ingredients with major potential in the food industry because of its effectiveness in slowing down deterioration processes of food. It’s also very popular because of its natural origin.

How do we use it?

You will find rosemary extract on the back label of our Steady shakes and Ready oatmeal.

Why do we use it?

In the food industry, rosemary extract is a natural alternative to synthetic additives and therefore a common antioxidant and preservative used for, among others, maintaining the quality of meat, fish, and oil. We use this to maintain the quality of the powder by reducing oxygen levels in closed pouches/cups.

There are two causes of food spoilage: microbial attack and fat oxidation. The first cause occurs with fresh and natural ingredients - whereby, due to its biological activity, it undergoes a progressive degradation. Bacteria, mould and yeasts are the results of this process. In the case of fat oxidation, free radicals - molecules that cause oxidative stress in others, create a chain reaction that affects the lipid acids. Environmental contamination, temperature, exposure to light can cause loss of nutrients, alterations in the aroma, taste and colour. When products don’t have antioxidants on their own, they need to be reinforced with substances such as rosemary extracts.

So, in very short; antioxidants delay the oxidation of fats.

Where does it come from?

As mentioned above, rosemary extract is produced from the rosemary plant. At Queal, we retrieve our extracts from a supplier in the United States of America.

Allergens.

There is a risk of allergic reaction when you ingest rosemary extract. It’s recommended to avoid rosemary in case you have ulcers, Crohn’s disease, high blood pressure or are breastfeeding. It can also interfere with some medications. Please talk to your doctor when in doubt.