The company inaugurated its 5,000-square-meter House of Nutrition facility in Germany last May, supplying minerals “with best-in-class purity and enhanced safety, for specialized nutritional formulations targeting vulnerable user groups,” Ann-Katrin Finkenauer, marketing manager for nutrition at Budenheim, told NutraIngredients.
“Widespread deficiency can lead to serious health consequences, including reduced energy levels, weakened immune systems and impaired cognitive and physical development,” she added.
“In turn, these health impacts can result in broader economic challenges, such as decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs and slowed economic growth, particularly in low and middle income countries.”
She also highlighted an urgent need to address these deficiencies proactively through personalized nutrition strategies that tailor micronutrient intake.
Forgotten minerals
Finkenauer noted that in many regions, the lack of comprehensive health education causes people to overlook essential minerals—nutrients that are critical throughout life but also among the most commonly deficient worldwide.
“Unlike macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates and fats, the importance of these essential minerals is not widely publicized or well known, leading to a lack of emphasis on their inclusion in daily nutrition,” she said.
“The effects of mineral deficiencies typically manifest over the long term, for instance weakened bones, reduced energy levels or impaired immune function, rather than the rapid consequences seen with calorie deficits.”
Magnesium and calcium are known to play a vital role in early life development, pregnancy and the prevention of osteoporosis later in life. However, since these minerals cannot be synthesized by the human body, dietary intake of these nutrients is essential for maintaining overall health.
Iron is known to support brain development and immune function in children, while in elderly populations it can help to prevent anemia, maintain energy and protect cognitive health.
Vulnerable populations
Minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron play a vital role in growth and development during the early years of life.
According to research, deficiencies in these minerals during infancy and childhood can contribute to decreased energy levels, reduced cognitive function and compromised physical development.
Furthermore, healthy aging is becoming an increasingly important concern for consumers. Although life expectancy is rising, older adults often face ill health, which according to Finkenauer is often directly linked to disease-related malnutrition.
“Enhanced longevity often comes with heightened and specific nutritional needs, so incorporating mineral salts into the diet through high quality tailored supplements can help maintain overall well-being and prevent age-related deficiencies,” she said.
“Conditions that impair nutrient absorption or intake can weaken the immune response and increase complication rates, but timely intervention with specialized mineral formulations can mitigate adverse health outcomes.”
The House of Nutrition
The new House of Nutrition facility, which will have an annual mineral phosphate output capacity of 4,400 tons, operates solely on renewable electricity. It includes 33 tanks, six hygienic rooms and an automatic clean-in-place (CIP) system.
It was designed to operate at pharmaceutical-grade standards, adhering to strict hygiene and safety measures, including high-risk zones for sensitive ingredients intended for applications in early-life, preventive and medical nutrition.
“These zones are equipped to handle the precise demands of manufacturing mineral ingredients for nutritional applications where safety and efficacy are of paramount importance” Finkenauer said, noting that contaminants or impurities can pose serious risks to sensitive populations.