CAREZZO NUTRITION BV

Fred Bergmans and Wim van Cuijk are the founders of Carezzo Nutrition BV. Separately, they were challenged by the dieticians’ request to come up with a larger variety of tasty products for people suffering from malnutrition. Additionally, they were touched by the significant risk of malnutrition in hospitals and care institutions and by the fact that existing solutions in diets and medical beverages were not working the way they were supposed to.
With their extensive experience in commodities they came up with a range of protein enriched products based on vegetables, fruits and grains, offering more proteins in the familiar dietary pattern. Their goal was to create reliable and fresh products that people choose because they like it. “Choose what you like and get what you need”.

Both entrepreneurs have been working on scientific research and clinical studies for the substantiation of protein enriched food and beverages in healthcare since 2012. They have been working closely with Wageningen University, hospital the Gelderse Vallei and other partners in the ‘Cater with Care’ consortium.

Carezzo Nutrition BV is convinced that this unique collaboration of expertise leads to a new nutritional concept that increases the protein intake during sandwich meals and snacks. Several studies indicate that the shortages occur precisely during these eating moments, which leads to a protein intake lower than the norm. Therefore, this could be THE solution to solve the problem we know as malnutrition.
Carezzo Nutrition focuses on protein enriched regular nutrition that fits into the normal dietary pattern, such as bread & pastry’s, fruit juices & vegetable soups, fruit dairy & fruit ice cream.

RESEARCH MAKES IT POSSIBLE

To gain more knowledge about protein enriched nutrition, we have intensively worked together with nutritionists and dietitians. Through scientific research the protein requirement of the target group and how protein enriched nutrition is best provided has been determined. For the development of our products, we joined forces with two knowledge centers: the European Bakery Innovation Center (EBIC) for the bread- and pastry products and with NIZO Research for vegetable soups, fruit juices, dairy and ice cream. The challenge we face when adding as much proteins as possible to known products in the familiar dietary pattern, is keeping it familiar and to save their taste and flavor. During these researches and developments, ground-breaking steps were taken concerning processes and recipes. That is why, “I like it, it tastes just as good as regular food.” is the biggest compliment for us.

TASTY FOOD AND EATING WELL

Food and beverages are supposed to be tasty, this also applies to protein enriched food and beverages. Multiple tests have been conducted with Carezzo’s assortment at the seniors’ taste panel at Wageningen University. The SenTo panel (Seniors of the Future) feature participants with reduced abilities to taste and smell. The first product ever tested by the panel was Carezzo’s protein enriched bread, with a very positive outcome. Participants found this bread significantly better tasting than regular bread.
It is also important to know whether the patient would want to keep eating the product and that this is not at expense of other meals. That is why did research at the VU medical center with elderly people who had been admitted with an acute illness and seniors who stayed in a rehabilitation clinic for three weeks. The study has shown that patients ate as many slices from our protein enriched bread as they would from regular bread and that after three weeks, the slices of bread eaten did not decrease. Researchers concluded that Carezzo’s bread has contributed to a significant increase in protein intake, about half of the total amount per day. Several scientific publications have been written about this study.

EASILY PERCEIVE YOUR PROTEIN CONSUMPTION

All the packaging of Carezzo contain a number. This number indicates how many grams of protein per portion that product contains, which makes it very easy to know and keep track of how much extra protein has been consumed per day. For example, two slices of bread contain about 12 grams of protein and a piece of cake 10 grams. The vegetable soup, fruit juice, dairy and ice cream hold about 10 grams of protein. Whenever you want to choose between flavors and various products, you can immediately see the quantity of your protein intake.

CUPS THAT ARE EASY TO OPEN

All liquid products are foreseen with a new type of lid, a large skirt that folds over the container. The new cover does not only look better but is also more convenient. Because, opening the product can now be done with the whole hand instead of the fingers only which does not require a lot of strength and energy. This is particularly important for elderly people when locomotion and strength decreases.