Thrive, which sells for $11.99 for a 16.9 oz. bottle, has a high smoke point, making it easy to cook with at hot temperatures. Plus, Brooks says, it has a light flavor, which is ideal for salad dressings. 鈥淚t lets the flavors of food shine through,鈥� he says. (颁辞耻谤迟别蝉测听厂辞濒补锄测尘别)
WASHINGTON 鈥� Food and health experts are dubbing algae the nation鈥檚 .
But don鈥檛 worry, there鈥檚 no need to take a straw down to your nearest pond and start gulping. All you need to do is stir fry your favorite vegetables, whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies or make a post-workout protein shake.
Algae is not new to grocery store shelves. In fact, you鈥檝e likely consumed or used a product containing algae without even knowing it. It鈥檚 present in your daily fish oil supplements, your favorite brownie mix and even infant formula and skin creams.
And in 2016, consumers will see algae pop up in even more products.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really the mother of all plants and contains all those building blocks of food that we鈥檙e looking for, whether that鈥檚 protein or healthy oil,鈥� says Mark Brooks, senior vice president of Solazyme, a San Francisco-based biotech company that develops algae-based food ingredients.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been around for centuries and it鈥檚 been in our food chains for all of that time.鈥�
A group of algae is already common in the diets of many Americans. Seaweed is consumed in sushi, miso soup and even as dried snacks. Only now, companies such as Solazyme are looking for ways to increase its presence 鈥� and its popularity 鈥� in the culinary industry through algae-based versions of everyday cooking ingredients.
Brooks says algae can address a number of problems in our current food system, such as sustainability (algae is self-replicating and doesn鈥檛 require much space to grow) and availability of nutrition (it鈥檚 high in omega-3s, as well as several vitamins and minerals).
It can also help transform taboo foods into healthier versions of themselves. (A heart-healthy chocolate chip cookie made with algae flour and oil? Yes, please.)
So far, Solazyme is working on three algae-based products. The first is an oil, called . Brooks says the product is high in and low in saturated fat.
鈥淪o just switching to an algae oil can help you bridge that gap of getting more of what鈥檚 good for fats and less of what鈥檚 bad,鈥� he says.
In fact, named algae oil one of the best oils for heart health.
Thrive, which sells for $11.99 for a 16.9 oz. bottle, has a high smoke point, making it easy to cook with at hot temperatures. Plus, Brooks says, it has a light flavor, which is ideal for salad dressings. 鈥淚t lets the flavors of food shine through,鈥� he says.
Solazyme’s plant-based protein powder, , can be incorporated in smoothies and juices, and its聽vegan and allergen-free can be used to make baked goods.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working on finding ways that algae can be used to clean up a label in a product like a chocolate chip cookie or to enable amazing gluten-free, vegan baking mixes,鈥� Brooks says.
, some companies have already incorporated Solazyme鈥檚 products聽into their foods. Enjoy Life uses it in its brownie mix and pizza crust mix; also uses Solazyme鈥檚 whole algae flour in its almond milk nondairy creamers.
It all sounds good on paper, but when it comes to buying algae-based products at the grocery store, will consumers bite?
Brooks is betting yes.
He says more consumers are looking to incorporate natural and plant-based alternatives in their diet. The environmental pros of algae also help its case. Animal agriculture has an impact on the environment, contributing to water pollution, air pollution and loss of biodiversity.
However, similar to other aquaculture products, algae is produced at a low and environmental cost. Companies are even turning to algae as a .
鈥淸Algae] has really captured people鈥檚 imaginations,鈥� Brooks says.
