NANO
FOODS :
Quantum Physics Enters the Food Industry |
Nanotechnology
has infiltrated the Nutraceutical, Pharmaceutical, and food
industries. Applications in Nanotechnology range from cancer-delivery
drugs, to Nanobots injected into the human body, to Nanofoods.* |
THE
RACE
Not since the race for the Double-Helix, has the scientific community
evidenced an explosion equal to the race for Nanotechnology. The
rush to develop and patent NanoFoods has reached epidemic proportions,
with over 1,000 new U.S. patents recently filed in Nanotechnology
(as of January 1, 2007). Globally, the race is on between countries
to develop and patent Nanotechnology.
200 companies worldwide are participating in Nanotechnology research,
including General Mills, Kraft, and Nestle. One European company
has $ 20 Billion dollars slated for Nano research in the next
five years. The Taiwan government has a $ 9 Billion dollar budget
for Nanotechnology, with 300 new patents filed. L’Oreal,
the world’s largest cosmetic company, now ranks # 6 among
Nano patents filed in the United States.
Nanotechnology includes the fields of Nanofoods, Nanoparticles,
Nanobots, Nanoelectronics, Nanomedicine, Nanocosmetics, and Nanodrugs.
Nanodrugs allow the delivery of functional agents to targeted
sites in the body. Nanofoods function in much the same manner,
except instead of delivering drugs to target-sites, they can deliver
specific ingredients to their targeted destinations in the human
body.
Nanoparticles, another branch of Nanotechnology, allows for the
transport of nutrients through membranes and across the Blood-Brain-Barrier
(BBB).
Nanoparticles can also be embedded in foods and programmed to
send out an alert to refrigerator sensors that food has gone bad
or contains harmful bacteria.
Nanoparticles are based on Quantum Physics. Their minuscule size
(see chart at Nanotechnology Library Online*) allows scientists
to engineer particles, naturally or synthetically, so that they
biochemically behave differently than normal
size particles.
SOFT VS HARD PARTICLE SCIENCE
The main controversial issue in the development of NanoFoods is
one of safety.
There are currently two methods utilized in designing Nano-based
edibles; soft particle science and hard particle
science:
Soft particle science embraces the use of safe, human-edible-grade
ingredients (non-enhanced, non-genetically-modified biological
materials) imbedded or integrated into Nanofoods. Soft particles
are completely safe for carbon-based mechanisms, such as mammals,
including humans. The human body is adept at processing soft
particles, and hold them harmless because they look like
normal cells.
Hard particle science embraces the use of non-organic,
synthetic substances imbedded into Nanofoods. Hard particles are
potentially dangerous to life forms because the human body does
not recognize them and does not know how to process them. As the
body attempts to biologically process unknown agents (biosynthesize),
highly toxic reactions can occur at a molecular level. These reactions
may not be evidenced immediately, but can result in kidney, liver,
and organ damage, as well as life-span-reduction.
Since the metabolic outcome of synthetically-driven Nanofoods
is speculative at best, scientists are cautious about their introduction
into the food chain. More research is needed prior to accepting
the use of Hard particle science.
CAVEAT EMPTOR
The public does not have Quantum Physicists on-hand to provide
advice on which Nanofoods contain Soft vs Hard particles. As such,
it is recommended that, prior to purchasing a NanoEdible, the
manufacturing company produce a document certifying that the product
does not contain Hard particles. If no such document
is forthcoming to the buyer, move on to a company that will provide
safety documentation.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Regulators plan on watching the Nano market carefully to determine
which products comply with full disclosure on Nanotechnology and
which obfuscate and refuse to cooperate with fair disclosure to
the public.
Companies utilizing valid Nanotechnology need to be separated,
in the public domain and scientific community, from those that
offer fake Nanoscience.
Unfortunately, many new fake Nanoscience products have
recently been introduced in the market, and subsequently exposed
as fraudulent.
This exposes the public to a confusing dilemma. Which products
contain valid Nanotechnology, and which do not.
As the Glycemic Research Institute has been the official leader
in Glycemic Certification for the past 20 years, it was a natural
progression to create a program and protocol for Nano Certification.
CERTIFICATION
The Glycemic Research Institute (GRI) now offers Certification
in the field of Nanotechnology.
The Certified Nano Technology Seal (duly registered with
the United States government) is available to corporations whose
products pass the scientific Nano protocol.
The Nanotechnology Certification program provides independent
authorization to companies who possess valid Nano science.
CERTIFICATION PROTOCOLS
The food, Nutraceutical, and Pharmaceutical industries may submit
products to the Glycemic Research Institute for Nano analysis.
Nanomolecules used in foods and Nutraceuticals
must pass the protocol for Soft Particles, as soft nano
particles are considered safe for use in human orally ingested
agents. If Hard Particles are present in products submitted
as foods or Nutraceuticals, they will be denied, as Hard Particles
are not considered safe for human (or mammal) use.
Pharmaceuticals undergo a different
protocol, as they can contain complicated Nano agents that deliver
chemotherapy drugs to targeted sites in the body. Pharmaceuticals
submitted will be analyzed for valid Nano science, and authorized
to use the Certified Nano Technology Seal if they pass
the protocol.
“Scientific Testing Protocols” for both the food
and Nutraceutical Certification, and the Pharmaceutical
Certification have been duly filed with the Federal government,
per “Certification Guidelines.”
SUBMISSION
Companies desiring to submit product (s) for Nano Certification
may download and submit the Application Form below.
If the product is accepted by GRI, the cost of the testing Protocol,
including Laboratory Analysis, will be forwarded to the client.
No product will be authorized to use the Certified Nano Technology
Seal without undergoing, and passing, the GRI analytical protocol
for Nanotechnology.
Any illegal use of the Certified Nano Technology Seal
will result in a Federal lawsuit, and the violation will be reported
to the FDA and FTC.
Nano Application Form
GLOBAL
NANO CERTIFICATION
Companies located outside the United States may submit Nanotechnology
products by filling out the Application Form and e mailing or
faxing the form back to GRI. A coordinator will be assigned to
the client. The assigned coordinator will walk the client through
the process, and answer any questions the client may have.
