FAO Patents Coconut Water as Energy Drink

ROME--TheFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was given a patent on new technology forbottling and marketing coconut water as an energy drink. This technologyincludes a cold sterilization process instead of high-temperature pasteurizationcurrently used in commercial productions. The first patent ever given to aUnited Nations agency, this new process has been tested on four coconutvarieties and allows the drink to keep its nutritional characteristics byretaining microorganisms and spores, according to FAO. The patent was given bythe United Kingdom, and FAO has also requested patents in Canada and Japan. Formore information, visit www.fao.org/news/2000/000902-e.htm .