Apple pomace project aims to tackle child obesity

An innovative way of tackling child obesity by replacing high-calorie ingredients with apple pomace has won financial backing from the Welsh Government and Innovate UK.

Using pomace, a by-product of apple juice and cider production, a consortium led by food technology specialist Pennotec aimed to develop an ingredient that could reduce levels of sugar and saturated fat in a range of popular foods.

The consortium also included Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre, Coleg Menai’s Food Technology Centre and Cork company CyberColloids.

It has been awarded £350,000 of research and development funding from the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Division and Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative.

‘Ingredient with functional fibres’​

Pennotec managing director Dr Jonathan Hughes (pictured left) said: “We are using Welsh apple pomace as a food ingredient with functional fibres.​

“These can improve the nutritional composition of foods that are particularly enjoyed by children while reducing cost.”​

Bangor University’s Dr Adam Charlton (pictured right) added: “Wales generates thousands of tonnes of surplus fresh food that never makes it to the supermarket shelves.​

“We are targeting the potential of apple pomace to provide texture for food instead of high-calorie ingredients such as fat.”​