February 15, 2016
Donation from KSU-IC will aid food science research
Food science researchers in Kansas State University's animal sciences and industry department will soon be able to take advantage of equipment previously used to develop a drink rich in calcium and vitamin C.
Jayendra Amamcharla, an assistant professor of animal sciences and industry, has accepted a microthermics unit on behalf of the department to help with work in formulating beverages, developing new products, evaluating ingredients and more.
The unit was previously used by the university startup company Nutrijoy Inc., which was operational at the Institute for Commercialization, or KSU-IC, from 2000 through 2010. The company produced Cal-C, a juice/milk beverage that contained 50 percent more calcium than milk and a full day's supply of vitamin C.
The gift was coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation.
Kent Glassock, president of the Institute for Commercialization, said it was an easy decision to make the donation.
"KSU-IC exists to serve the university and we hope in some small way that this donation of underutilized equipment will serve the interests of our animal science colleagues," he said.
Amamcharla said a microthermics unit is used for controlled thermal processing of small volumes of liquid foods to ultra high temperature, UHT, and high temperature short time, HTST — processes that sterilize food and are often used in milk production, fruit juices, cream, soups and many other foods.
Some foods treated at UHT and HTST may have an unrefrigerated shelf life of up to nine months.