Maltodextrins' water-holding ability enhances chewability, bite and may improve the shelf stability of energy bars. They also provide an additional source of carbohydrates. Cargill has added spray-dried maltodextrins to its line-up of functional food ingredients. They are neutral in taste, therefore enhancing fruit, savory and grain flavors in a wide variety of applications. When used in sports drinks, excellent solubility yields clear beverages with improved body. Cargill's Specialty Food & Pharma Starch Solutions, 877-650-7080

A homogeneous, free-flowing whey protein isolate powder specially processed from fresh sweet whey, Isolac® Whey Protein Isolate is available from Century Foods International. Isolac is produced by cross flow micro-filtration and ultra-filtration. It is an undenatured protein that maintains all the protein fractions in their proper proportions. Its high protein efficiency and biological value make it an excellent functional and nutritional source of all-natural protein for use in dietary, health and sport foods, and beverage systems. Century Foods International, 800-269-1901, www.centuryfoods.com

These WPIs offer several benefits, including clean bland flavor, white color, high solubility, high clarity, excellent heat and acid stability over a pH range of 3.0 to 8.0. Proliant's Iso-Chill™ 9000 and Iso-Chill™ 9010 Instantized Whey Protein Isolates are manufactured by a novel “chilling” or low-temperature microfiltration process, providing undenatured protein with a full balance of bioactive whey protein fractions, including immunoglobulin, lactoferrin and glycomacropeptides. The WPIs are ideal for heat-treated, acidic and neutral beverages and high-protein nutritional and sports bars. Proliant Inc., 800-369-2672, dairyingredients@proliantinc.com, www.proliantinc.com

Maltodextrins are used in meat, dairy, dry mix, baking, frozen food, salad dressing and sauce, confection, beverage, and snack food applications. They are used in applications calling for solubility, freezing point control, film forming properties, binding properties, crystal growth inhibition, and as a viscosity/bodying agent. ADM Clintose Maltodextrins are non-sweet, nutritive saccharide polymers that are produced as a white powder. ADM, www.admworld.com

Some of the ingredients this company offers can be used in juice, sports and nutritional drinks with calcium fortification, including Staley STAR-DRI® Maltodextrins and Tate & Lyle Calcium Citrate. The maltodextrins are used for their texture and viscosity in drinks requiring less fat, fewer calories and to increase carbohydrate loading in sports drinks. The calcium citrate provides calcium fortification with high calcium content and neutral flavor. Tate & Lyle Food Ingredients, 800-526-5728, Amanda, AEStanckiewitz@TLNA.COM , www.TLNA.com

Various forms of milk proteins are widely used in sports drinks and other protein-fortified energy foods. MILEI GmbH, a German ISO 9001 manufacturer, is a leading supplier of milk proteins that offer superior nutritional properties as well as functional attributes. The products find application in nutritional supplements and infant formulas, as well as other traditional nutraceutical end products requiring protein fortification. The company's North American agent is Dairy Specialties Inc. MILEI GmbH, David Brown, 614-855-2331, dsibrown@aol.com

This WPI's clean flavor, ease of dispersion (instant version) and clarity in solution offers benefits to both the marketer and developer. Provon® whey protein isolate is manufactured using cross flow microfiltration technology (CFM®), a process recognized within the sports and energy markets as providing whey isolates with the highest levels of undenatured protein, branched chain amino acids and bioactive protein components. Glanbia's application specialists also will design product- and company-specific whey isolate solutions. As with all of the company' solutions, the WPI is backed by superior quality and customer service. Glanbia USA, Kelly Czerwonka, 800-336-2183, kczerwonka@glanbiausa.com, www.glanbianutritionals.com