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"Innovating with Pulses - New Opportunities for Food Applications"

Seminar Monday 20 February 2012 at 15.00

Ruby Room, 1st Floor, Novotel Hotel - Dubai World Trade Centre
Pulse Canada, the national association representing Canada's pulse industry, is holding a seminar on innovating with whole pulses, pulse flours and pulse fractions for the food processing industry. The goal of the seminar is to demonstrate the versatility of pulses and pulse ingredients to manufacturers and identify ways to produce healthier consumer products.

The seminar will be held on Monday 20 February at 15.00 in the Ruby Room, on the first floor of the Novotel Hotel at Dubai World Trade Centre , adjacent to the Gulfood venue.

CEO Gordon Bacon and his team including Marketing and Food Innovation Manager Tanya Der, and Canadian pulse growers Randy Froese and Richard Krikke, are visiting the region to coincide with Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai.

"Given the growing consumer interest in health, and the rising incidence of obesity and diabetes worldwide, pulses are a healthy ingredient option. One of Pulse Canada's primary tasks is talking to global manufacturers about how they can reformulate existing products with pulses to improve the nutritional profile of their products, without compromising taste and texture." said Gordon Bacon.

Whole pulses, pulse flours and pulse fractions (fibre, protein and starch) can be used in a number of processed food applications including noodles, pasta, bakery products (like cookies and crackers), breakfast cereals, processed meats (as a binder, meat extender and analogue), snack foods, ready-to-eat meals, and gluten-free products. Pulses also have functional properties which are of interest to food processors. These properties include excellent moisture retention, fat binding capabilities, providing foam or emulsion stability and the ability to act as a thickener.

Extensive research shows that pulses are high in fibre and protein, a source of key minerals and vitamins such as iron and folate, and are low in fat. They also have a low glycemic index (GI) and are gluten-free. Pulse consumption also plays an important role in chronic disease prevention and management and assists with weight management by increasing satiety and controlling appetite.

Pulse Canada is the national industry association representing Canadian producers and exporters of dry leguminous vegetables (also known as pulse crops) including peas, lentils, chickpeas and beans. Canada is the largest exporter of pulses, shipping its crops to more than 150 countries around the world. Canada's pulse industry is also an innovative leader in research and development. Our main objective is to develop new use opportunities for pulses leading to increases in aggregate demand.

For more information, please contact:
Courtney Hirota
Director of Marketing & Communications
1212 - 220 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 0A5
Tel (204) 925-3785
Email chirota@pulsecanada.com

Victoria Hassani
Global Market Access ME
PO Box 502616 Dubai, UAE
Tel 971 50 101 3541
Emailvictoria.hassani@gmadubai.com
www.pulsecanada.com

© Press Release 2012