Glanbia's Flax Plant burns to the ground

This is a sad day for the flax business in Canada as Glanbia Nutritionals" flax plant located in rural Manitoba burnt to the ground yesterday.

The Angusville plant was the worlds largest flax processing facility producing 47 high quality value-added products servicing major international Fortune 500 companies globally.  Glanbia officials could not be reached for comment.  Most likely the local workers will be out of a job.   Full details are available in the Winnipeg Free Press

Flax is used in breads, smoothies, cereals, energy bars and pet food.

Innovative Healthy Products: Why try Hemp for health?

Why try hemp for health? I last spoke about a new product called Hemp Hearts produced by Manitoba Harvest in Winnipeg.  So how does the nutritional profile of hemp compare to flax?  Hemp Hearts are a great heart healthy option and according to Dr. Oz, they are ‘Brain Food’.  They contain 10%+ more protein than flax; 1/3 the level of carbs,  plus the balanced source of Omega-3 or SDA (Stearidonic acid is an ω-3 fatty acid) and Omega-6 including the rare form of GLA essential fatty acids (Gamma Linolenic Acid) that flax does not have.

How can we improve our health?  Daily consumption of Hemp!  Hemp has been shown to help maintain heart health, healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and aids in hormonal balance.  The essential fatty acids (EFAs) in hemp are both short and long chain making for a broader spectrum and work together to ensure your body has an effective metabolism.  According to the World Health Organization the ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 is 4:1.  Hemp has a ratio of 3.75:1.  

What type of microbiological testing do hemp seeds undergo?  Flax products undergo stringent microbial testing and positive release programs to guarantee their safety when used in uncooked snack bars.  Challenges not addressed in Manitoba Harvest sales literature relate to positive release pathogen testing and whether their microbial loads are reduced to reach Log 4 or 5 reduced levels that are demanded by major retail brands.

However, it still appears that flax has a new challenger on the horizon...from Hemp Hearts.