Resonance Technology May Shake Up Beverage Industry

By Judy Rice

Magnetic resonance technology has come to the beverage industry. The RealPure Beverage Group LLC (Magee, MS) and Jacobson Resonance Enterprises Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) have sealed a 10-year deal to develop and commercialize resonated beverages. As part of the agreement, RealPure will be free to sub-license the technology to other beverage processors.

So what are resonated beverages and why are they beneficial? As Dr. Frank Chaviano, chief financial officer for Jacobson Resonance Enterprises, explains: "First, it's important to note that this is not a new technology. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been around for quite awhile in the medical arena. What we have here is a new application for magnetic resonance, and we use a process that's about 100,000 times weaker than the medical MRI. We want a rather weak, very subtle resonance. Treatment with magnetic resonance technology can change the structure of the atoms in beverages, rendering the products more beneficial to the human body.

"For example, with waters, we can enhance the speed of absorption in the body. With sports drinks, we can produce a beverage that reduces muscle cramping, aids digestion, and improves alertness. For pediatric drinks, for example resonated water with electrolytes, we can provide a product that improves delivery of nutrients, eliminates gas, and enables better digestion in the large intestines. And for geriatric beverages, which is really a market segment that has been vastly under-explored and offers great market potential, the technology can deliver a product that aids digestion, improves nutrient delivery, and reduces stiffness in the joints," says Chaviano.

Furthermore, he points out that the technology has application for a range of beverage types—from water to milk to wine to carbonated soft drinks—so long as they are packaged in non-metal containers. "The product is packaged and sealed before resonance treatment in a batch-type process," Chaviano explains. "Packaging structures such as PET and glass work well. Metal cans, foil pouches, and aseptic juice-box-type packages (which contain a layer of foil) won't accept the treatment."

The resonator in place at RealPure is about 12-ft tall and can process a batch of packaged beverages in about 10 minutes. Technicians from NASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration), who have had previous experience with the Jacobson system, helped with the installation.

RealPure's plant in Magee, MS, is extremely unique in that it taps its water source from a natural spring that's piped right into the middle of the plant floor. The aquifer discharges approximately a million gallons of natural spring water per day. The exceptionally pure water contains a TDS (total dissolved solids) of approximately 10-12 consistently on a daily basis—even though the bottle label conservatively states 21 TDS.

The company's current product line includes shelf-stable juices, non-flavored, non-carbonated waters and the new Resonated Real-Pro Hi-Energy Sports Drink. Initially, RealPure is using the resonator to process its 20-oz, plastic-packed, electrolyte-containing, isotonic sports drinks in four flavors—lemon-lime, fruit punch, blue raspberry, and citrus cooler.

One high-profile spokesman for the new sports drink is Brett Favre, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. A portion of the sales of these beverages will go to support Brett Favre's Forward Foundation for Children in Mississippi (where he's from) and in Wisconsin (where he plays professional football). The product will be launched in late April.

David Cox, president of RealPure, reports that construction is underway to expand the Magee production facility by 50,000-sqft. "We think the sky's the limit on this technology, and we're pretty fired up about it," said Cox.

In addition to applying resonance treatment to its own products, the company is in a position to offer contract processing and packaging services to other beverage processors. Cox noted that the technology provides three possible treatment levels: (1) the "feel good" level—which RealPure is using for its sports drinks; (2) the "relax" level; and (3) the "energy-enhancing" level.

"The technology hastens absorption and enables us to produce a highly effective sports drink with half the sodium of some other electrolytic products out there," says Cox. "We're making plans to move our waters into this technology. And we see exciting potential for pediatric and geriatric beverages, too."

Summing up, Cox predicted, "This is a new technology for our industry, but in five years, it will be well-known and well-accepted."

RealPure also produces bag-in-box juice and syrup concentrates for use in further processed beverages.

For more info: Frank Chaviano, Jacobson Resonance Enterprises Inc., 561-477-8020 or www.jrse.com; and David Cox, RealPure Beverage Group, 1-800-949-0392.