PacificHealth Laboratories, maker of the sports drink Accelerade, has formed an alliance with food ingredients company Cargill, for the launch of the beverage in a ready-to-drink form.
Under the agreement, PacificHealth Laboratories will incorporate Ascend, Cargill's new branded ingredient, Trehalose, into the sports drink and Cargill will provide PacificHealth with distribution and manufacturing resources.
Accelerade has only been available as a powder until now.
Ted Ziemann, president of Cargill Health & Food Technologies (HFT), said: "Ascend brand of Trehalose offers advantages in terms of flavor, stability, and sweetness characteristics in a variety of food systems. It was important for Cargill to ensure that the first sports performance drink that incorporated Ascend was on the cutting edge."
Cargill bills Ascend as a 'unique sugar'. It is made from cornstarch that provides energy that lasts without the "sugar crash," a response that can occur following consumption of carbohydrates prior to exercise. It is also believed to stabilise proteins and enhance flavors.
Dr Robert Portman, CEO of PacificHealth Laboratories, added: "We began an informal working arrangement with Cargill about six months ago. Cargill HFT's assistance has helped make Accelerade Ready-To-Drink a reality."
He said that a store placement in a San Diego area test market was expected for January 2003.
Accelerade has a patented 4 to 1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein to speed the movement of carbohydrate into the muscle. In research studies, Accelerade powder extends endurance by 24 per cent compared to a conventional sports drink and 57 per cent compared to water.