FUL®
What is FUL®?
FUL® comes from one of the most nutrient-dense natural substances on earth: Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae.
FUL® is the key ingredient around which the drink is designed – it’s what gives you that kick of vitamins and minerals... and, yes, that signature bad-ass aqua colour.
How is FUL® different from Spirulina?
We wanted to make all the goodness of Spirulina easily available without the very distinct and (dare we say unappealing?) taste. Our team has been working with some of the leading food technologists and flavor scientists in the world to transform Spirulina through a completely natural process into a tasty, unapologetically blue drink you can enjoy throughout your day.
Unlike Blue Spirulina (which consists of a single component in Spirulina – a protein-pigment complex called phycocyanin), FUL® contains a more complete nutritional profile (including chlorophyll), hence its turquoise color.
While Spirulina can be cultivated in a highly sustainable way, the majority of (Blue) Spirulina is not produced as sustainably as it could be and even risks contamination with heavy metals.
FUL® is derived from an ultra-premium locally grown Spirulina that is produced according to the highest quality and sustainability standards we’ve developed to ensure that we use more CO2 than we produce in the production process (more on this below).
Unlike Spirulina, FUL® doesn’t contain vitamin K or high amounts of beta carotene that more aggressively restrict the daily intake amount.
Why is FUL® blue? Is it natural?
Yes, the blue is all natural – we don’t add any artificial colorants to the drink (!) The blue is coming from an antioxidant in the Spirulina called phycocyanin, a protein-pigment complex known for its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and helps the body create red blood cells
Why is FUL® good for your health?
Yes. FUL® is a source of natural vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, electrolytes and proteins.
See page About FUL® for the complete breakdown of “What Makes FUL® ?”
What is the difference between Algae vs. Microalgae vs. Spirulina vs. FUL®?
Algae is a broader term used to refer to aquatic life forms that can conduct photosynthesis – similar to plants but without roots, leaves or stems. Algae range from macroalgae (aka seaweed) to microalgae (microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye). FUL® is an extract of Spirulina and can be grouped with microalgae.
Ok now let’s get technical…
We at FUL Foods – like many other experts – consider Spirulina in the microalgae camp, and algae camp more broadly. Spirulina is a cyanobacteria (technically the historical predecessor to microalgae) and is sometimes grouped separately because cyanobacteria are prokaryotic microorganisms (consisting of a single membrane without a nucleus), unlike other types of microalgae that are eukaryotes (where the DNA is contained within a nucleus). Spirulina lacks cellulose walls, which makes its nutrients simpler to digest compared to other types of eukaryotic microalgae.
Spirulina (like other types of algae and plants) can also photosynthesize, which means they have the ability to produce their own food by using sunlight (converting sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to biomass). Cyanobacteria are named after the word ‘cyan’ meaning a ‘turquoise blue’ color. Hence, they are also called blue-green algae.
Is FUL® in any other products besides a drink?
Not yet (!) but we are working on incorporating FUL® through other healthy and convenient products.