We Made Njamito Even Healthier With Improved Flavours and More Fiber

Since Njamito, our first consumer product, hit the shelves and delighted taste buds across Slovenia in October last year, we’ve been committed to offering balanced and nutritious meals that satisfy both taste and health-conscious consumers.

To celebrate Njamito’s first birthday, we set out to improve the original formula, looking for ways to make it even healthier and tastier.

The Journey Towards an Even Healthier, Better Njamito

The initial idea was to improve nutritional values by using low calorie sweeteners. However, after reviewing the scientific evidence on sweeteners and the latest opinion on them from the World Health Organisation (WHO), we realized this was not the optimal path.

Based on scientific evidence, the WHO has taken a new look at sweeteners like aspartame, stevia, and sucralose, advising against their long term use for weight loss or reducing disease risks. While these alternatives might help cut sugar in the short term, studies show they don’t offer lasting benefits for weight control and could even raise the risk of diabetes or heart disease. Additionally, evidence shows that use of sweeteners could negatively impact gut microbiota.

Scientists have also raised concerns about erythritol, a common sugar substitute that can be used in organic products. A 2023 study found that high levels of erythritol in the blood might increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes by promoting blood clot formation.

While these findings don’t definitively prove causation, they have prompted caution in erythritol consumption, especially among those already at risk for heart disease. More research is needed to confirm these effects, but for now, erythritol’s reputation as a “safe” sweetener is now being reconsidered.

Instead of using sweeteners, experts suggest focusing on a healthy diet with natural sugars from fruits and cutting back on added sugars overall.

Even in its original formulation,  Njamito adhered to these guidelines, but we wanted to go further. For Njamito 2.0, we’ve added more fruit and increased fiber content, which—combined with high protein content —has the additional benefit of balancing blood sugar levels and minimizing insulin spikes.

Importantly, not only is the fiber content higher, but it also features a variety of fibers that contribute to different aspects of gut health and metabolic function. The updated formulation now includes 12 different types of fiber, providing a more comprehensive range of fibers for optimal digestion and overall health.

Putting Njamito to the Test: Sensory Research with Our Community

To ensure that these changes are well-received, we conducted sensory research with the Njamito community. This involved testing newly improved versions against the previous formulas to see how consumers reacted to the reformulated product. The participants evaluated several key sensory aspects: overall likeability, taste, smell, appearance, sweetness, acidity, mouthfeel, and texture.

On average the new formulation performed similarly or, in some cases, better than the existing recipe, ensuring that the improved nutritional profile did not impact the distinctive taste of Njamito our consumers know and love.

The reformulated Njamito organic meals will shortly be available in stores across Slovenia! We’re confident these updates will provide an even more enjoyable and nutritious experience for our consumers.

A big thank you to our Njamito community for helping us make Njamito even better!