US and Chinese Firm Inked Deal on Micro-Encapsulated MCT Powder Distribution

California-based ingredient supplier Phytochem inked a deal with Chinese firm Shaanxi Healthful Bioengineering (HSF Biotech) to distribute the latter’s micro-encapsulated MCT powder in the US, according to NutraIngredients-Asia.  The micro-encapsulated medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) powder, commercialized under the brand named VegeLiPi, is derived from coconut oil and palm kernel oil. 

“MCT is very popular right now,” said Pollyanna Fang, marketing manager at Phytochem, adding that driving the demand were formulators in the sports nutrition, weight management, and especially the low-carb high fat ketogenic diet categories. Google Trends online searches in the US for ‘MCT’ peaked to its highest point this summer, suggesting that the ingredient is top of mind for more US consumers than it has ever been, the report said.  

While several of the earliest launches for MCT oil were in oil format, brands have been releasing powdered versions of the ingredient this year so consumers can easily mix it in protein shakes or other food and beverage items. Examples of recent finished product launches this year include Nutiva’s MCT Powder introduced at Expo West, as well as several products within Perfect Keto’s line of powder supplements.  Fang cited the advantages over oil of a micro-encapsulated, powdered format for MCT, like the one her company will distribute, as convenience of transportation, ease of mixing, a creamier texture and better digestibility.