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Smuggling medicines in food - US scientists have encapsulated a nutraceutical - a dietary supplement with medicinal benefits - inside hydrocolloids to deliver it intact into the human body in food. Researchers have encapsulated curcumin molecules (a plant phenol found in turmeric with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-obese properties) inside water pockets in crystalline hydrocolloid fibres. Reference: S Janaswamy and S R Youngren, Food Funct., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2fo10281a