Get in slime: HPE Ingredients’ snail-based ingredients target digestive health and calcium deficiency

30 Jun 2021 --- French company HPE Ingredients is unveiling two snail-based ingredients that support digestive health and tackle calcium deficiencies – Helidigest and Helishell. The company uses cruelty-free methods for the production of its ingredients, which result from the biotechnological valorization of the snail. 

HPE Ingredients offers ingredients for the cosmetics industry, also derived from snail shells.

“Our ambition is to make the most out of the biological potential of the snail, which is still too little known and under-exploited. With its numerous health benefits, the snail deserves to be used even more widely,” Pascal Drevet, founder of HPE Ingredients, tells NutritionInsight.

The company’s ingredients can be used in food supplements, functional foods, medical devices and cosmetics.

“We make sure our ingredients are neutral in taste except for some of our products that are mixed with other ingredients like black garlic or fennel,” Drevet says.

The company’s ingredients offer wide-ranging benefits, such as cardiovascular health, joint health and digestion.

Gut friendly snail NPD
According to Drevet, the company’s ingredients offer wide ranging benefits, such as for cardiovascular health, joint health, digestion, as well as the beauty and cosmetics space.

Moreover, they tackle low calcium concerns and can even ameliorate coughing and protect against viral diseases. 

“For digestive health, the snail extract prevents intestine irritation by degrading insoluble fiber, with enzymes such as cellulose and hemicellulose.”

HPE Ingredients’ Helidigest is a formulation composed of enzymes extracted from snails (cellulase and laminarinase), fennel, turmeric extracts and a probiotic strain.

The combined action of these ingredients contributes to improved intestinal comfort, relieves the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and reduces abdominal pain.

The extracts of curcuma and fennel bring an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action.

Finally, the probiotics allow it to act on the balance of the intestinal flora by bringing “good bacteria” and by limiting the development of pathogenic bacteria. 

HPE Ingredients offers ingredients for the cosmetics industry, also derived from snails.Calcium boost
The company’s Helishell ingredient is employing the snail shell, which is naturally rich in calcium. It is composed of 98 percent of calcium carbonate, a natural and bioavailable form of calcium for the body. 

This ingredient, which comes in the form of a fine powder, can be used in the formulation of food supplements for subjects with a calcium deficiency. 

It is targeting demographics such as growing teenagers, post-menopausal women and seniors suffering from osteoporosis. 

Skin snails
Snail-derived ingredients are known for their healing properties and often featured in skin care NPD. The company currently offers two cosmetics ingredients that have many properties for skincare. 

The snail mucus is rich in active ingredients such as allantoin, glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid.

“Allantoin has soothing, repairing, regenerating and healing properties. It fights against free radicals, stimulates cell renewal and promotes the healing of small skin lesions. This active ingredient is very useful in limiting the aging process of the skin,” Drevet notes.

“As for glycolic acid, with its peeling effect, it eliminates dead cells on the surface of the skin, which allows better oxygenation of the skin. It helps to regain the luminosity of the epidermis and promotes the attenuation of wrinkles, pigmentation spots and acne scars.”

Cruelty-free production
The process used for collecting snail slime is patented and guaranteed cruelty-free, Drevet says. 

“As part of our policy of sustainable development, we choose partners that respect animal welfare.”

The ingredients are neutral in taste except for some products that are mixed with other ingredients like black garlic or fennel.Each ingredient has a specific production process depending on the form of the product, the company supports.

“Our production process is highly controlled at every stage. We care about the quality and security of our raw materials and we want to guarantee the traceability of the product.”

“There is always a filtration step (even micro-filtration or ultra-filtration for some products) and a drying and sieving step for powdered ingredients,” Drevet notes.

During the production process the company produces “very little waste.” 

“In fact, our company seeks to be as eco-friendly as possible. Sustainable development and ecological impact are at the center of our concerns.”

Fast-paced snail market
For the moment, HPE Ingredients distributes its products in Europe, Asia and South America. 

“However, we are able to export our ingredients all over the world according to the regulations specific to each country and we are always looking for new markets to conquer. Our plan to expand further is to develop a line specialized for animal nutrition and health,” Drevet details.

The company’s next move in the short term is to participate in various exhibitions such as the Vitafoods Europe, in October and the FiE, in November. 

“This will allow us to meet nutraceutical professionals and to introduce them to HPE Ingredients and our product,” he concludes.

Recently, Princeton Consumer Research partnered with Certified Nutraceuticals to study edible jellyfish collagen peptides for their potential in improving cognitive functions.

By Kristiana Lalou