Mushroom ingredient innovators Scelta Inside and MBio have signed a distribution agreement allowing the two companies to cooperate in bringing vitamins derived from the “white-buttoned wonder” to the health market. 

Specifically, Scelta Inside will bring its global customer base to support marketing, distribution and sales, and MBio will concentrate on its continual development of ingredients sourced from the white button mushroom. The company says the partnership forms “a strong alliance” with a “passion for mushrooms” at its center.

“This cooperation will help to bring vitamins which are 100% plant-based and minimally processed into the food industry as natural ingredients,” Erik Bongers, marketing and NPD manager at Scelta Inside, tells NutritionInsight. “We are looking forward to expanding this relationship into more interesting mushroom-based health ingredients.”

New sources for known nutrients
The ingredients to be developed and distributed by the two companies are vitamin B12 and vitamin D mushroom powders that can be used for supplements and nutraceuticals or to fortify foods and beverages.

The companies will bring vegan-friendly, mushroom-derived vitamins to market.A recent report reveals that up to 88% of the world population does not have optimal vitamin D levels, even in places that receive lots of sunlight. Since vitamin D cannot be created naturally by the body without sunlight and the nutrient has been found to aid in everything from immunity to heart health, the market appears wide open for new sources and innovations.

The partnership’s vegan-friendly products specifically address those needs. Scelta Inside states the companies convert the mushroom’s naturally-occurring ergosterols in vitamin D with specified amounts of UV light, allowing for the formulation of a low-dosage, clean label product.

“The clean and minimally processed production process of vitamin D and B12 is a clear advantage,” Bongers explains. “Other added vitamins are often found in the form of synthetic vitamins resulting from several chemical processes.”

“Our Scelta Vita D2 & B12 Powders are a clean label, wholefood vegan source.”

Forwarding flexitarianismThose on plant-based or flexitarian diets are sometimes lacking in vitamins B12 and D.
Moreover, both vitamins D and B12 have been found to be lacking among those following plant-based diets.

The company further notes that vitamin B12 plays crucial roles in immunity, energy levels and focus, brain health and the proper function of the nervous system.

Furthermore, a recent study reveals that vitamin B12 supplementation may improve pregnancy outcomes for women using assisted reproduction technologies for infertility.

“There is no need to add artificial vitamins, just use mushrooms,” Bongers remarks. “Especially in the vegan market, the combination of vitamin D and B12 is an often used combination due to the lack of these vitamins in plant-based food.”

“Besides these mushroom-based vitamins, Scelta Inside will continue to expand its business further in natural umami sources.”

In other news, a recent landmark psilocybin study produced promising results for treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi.