Ocean Spray Aims to Improve Cranberry PAC Testing

LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass.Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. and Complete Phytochemical Solutions LLC are collaborating to create cranberry-specific proanthocyanidin (PAC) standard to improve the accuracy of measuring and quantifying PACs in cranberries. Currently, the Procyanidin A2 (dimer) standard used is the DMAC  method, but critics say this testing method may not be able to accurately identify the unique A-type PACs found in cranberries.

The colorimetric methods currently used by the industry can deliver vastly different results, according to Ocean Spray. The recently introduced DMAC method provides an accurate quantification of PAC content based on the use of the Procyanidin A2 standard which is a dimer (chain length of two), but can lead to an under estimation of PAC content in products that are enriched in PACs of different sizes and lengths (degree of polymerization from 2 to 8 up to >10).  Variations in processing techniques for cranberry products can lead to significant differences in PAC composition.

Accurate quantification of PAC content in cranberry products can help establish dosage guidelines for consumers. Additionally, it can help monitor efficacy and shelf life of dietary supplements, as well as helping standardize test materials used in research studies.

Ocean Spray and Complete Phytochemical Solutions hope to make the cranberry PAC standard developed in this collaboration commercially available to the cranberry industry, academic institutes and contract research organizations worldwide.

Since DMAC is now considered to be the industry standard method, we are committed to improving its accuracy for all cranberry products by developing a more robust, commercially available cranberry PAC standard," said Amy Howell, associate research scientist at Rutgers University and member of the project team. "We anticipate this new methodology will provide more confidence for suppliers, consumers and regulatory agencies in the assessment of PAC content which will have a significant impact on the cranberry industry."

Ocean Sprays Ingredient Technology Group (ITG) also recently entered into a partnership with Artemis International to provide sales and marketing support for Ocean Sprays sale of cranberry powder and extract to nutraceutical manufacturers.