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Aseptic processing in next generation tube feed packaging opens future doors

Danone Research & Innovation designed the OpTri bottle: a totally new concept to package tube feeding. This new concept was made possible by the advantages of aseptic processing. This process technology opens doors to future product development of tube feeding.

Aseptic processing & Ultra High Temperature

This next generation tube feed packaging not only brings together the best of two worlds – convenient to hold like a bottle, and collapsible like a pouch – but, also uses Ultra High Temperature (UHT) treatment due to the aseptic processing.

Most of our current tube feeds are produced in a pouch using retort technology. This means that the pouch is filled in the factory with a non-sterile product. Then the filled pouches are sterilised by using a high temperature for a long period of time.

The next generation tube feed uses UHT. UHT sterilises the product before it is packaged in a sterile bottle. This means a shorter heating time and higher temperature; in total, the product is exposed to a lower heat load. As a consequence, the product now has a lower viscosity and Danone Research & Innovation is able to expand product development of tube feeding, including the patented P4 blend. Very high protein products containing the P4 protein blend are too viscous when produced in retort, while recent recommendations indicate that achieving protein intake is more important for ICU patients than energy intake.1Hurt, et al. Summary points and consensus recommendation from the international protein summit, Nutrition in Clinical Practice . Published on 2017 ,2Nicolo M, Heyland DK, Chittams J, Sammarco T, Compher C, Clinical Outcomes Related to Protein Delivery in a Critically Ill Population: A Multicenter, Multinational Observation Study. JPEN Journal of … Continue reading

P4

Danone Research & Innovation developed the new unique P4 protein blend to improve the amino acid quality in tube nutrition, but also to improve tolerance to gastric feeding. Tube feeding formulas containing the whey dominant P4 protein show faster gastric emptying in comparison to casein dominant tube feeding.3Kuyumcu, S et al. Noncoagulating Enteral Formula Can Empty Faster From the Stomach. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2014. Published on July 1, 2015

Vivianne Hoeberichts, Senior Teamleader Product Design & Development: “I’m proud to be able to contribute to the tube feeding of tomorrow. The process technology of today enabled us to provide very high protein tube nutrition based on the P4 protein blend. This facilitates health care professionals in feeding their critically ill patients according to the latest nutritional recommendations. As always the product development teams will explore new horizons to continuously improve our medical nutrition.”

View References

View References
1 Hurt, et al. Summary points and consensus recommendation from the international protein summit, Nutrition in Clinical Practice . Published on 2017
2 Nicolo M, Heyland DK, Chittams J, Sammarco T, Compher C, Clinical Outcomes Related to Protein Delivery in a Critically Ill Population: A Multicenter, Multinational Observation Study. JPEN Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition . Published on 2016, 40(1):45-51
3 Kuyumcu, S et al. Noncoagulating Enteral Formula Can Empty Faster From the Stomach. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2014. Published on July 1, 2015