Rutgers rustles up super-salad

Rutgers University is licensing a new variety of lettuce to spin-out Nutrasorb. The company is commercially exploiting products developed at both Rutgers and North Carolina State universities.

Dubbed Rutgers Scarlet Lettuce, in honour of the university’s mascots Scarlot Knights, the deep red burgundy variety has a high content of polyphenols – reducing the risk of diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome – and a low glycaemic index – keeping blood sugar levels low.

The product, which was created using common breeding techniques by Ilya Raskin, will initially be grown and shipped exclusively by Coastline Family Farms under its Nutraleaf range. Meanwhile Shamrock Seeds has acquired an exclusive license to market the seeds.

The product will initially be on sale in the Americas.

Ilya Raskin, professor in plant biology, said: “Lettuce is one of the most widely consumed vegetables after potatoes. This adds functionality to something that is not known for being good or bad.”