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C. H. BRAIN, Innovative Ingredients, Inc., Innovative Ingredients, Inc., 146 South Bever Street, Wooster, OH 44691

Liposomes have emerged as a tool for food product developers after years of being little more than a laboratory curiosity. Liposomes have been used in cosmetics and some pharmaceutical applications, but lack of stability and cost have been barriers for acceptance in the food industry. These problems have now been largely overcome.

Liposomes can be particularly useful in formulating nutraceuticals or reduced fat foods. As a specialized form of encapsulation, liposomes can control the release rate of encapsulated materials, provide protection for the encapsulated materials by reducing oxidation, reducing volatilization, and reducing interactions with other ingredients in the finished product. Liposomes have also been shown to increase "bioavailability" of nutritional ingredients. Liposomes also provide processing and formulations advantages, primarily by allowing easier incorporation of oil soluble materials into water based products.