GILROY, CA — New peer-reviewed research suggests that certain garlic varieties possess significant antiviral properties, prompting the launch of new garlic-based health products at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. The studies, published in the Journal of Functional Foods (2024) and JSFA Reports (2026), demonstrate that specific garlic cultivars exhibit strong activity against respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A, in laboratory settings.
Nick Diamantopoulos, founder of SupaG Health Pty Ltd, will unveil the company's new garlic supplements at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the nation's premier summer food event. The products are derived from cultivars identified through more than 30 years of collection, breeding, and analysis involving over 300 garlic varieties from around the world. According to Diamantopoulos, these developments mark a shift from generic garlic products to evidence-based, cultivar-specific formulations with targeted functional properties.
"These findings fundamentally change the way we should think about garlic," said Diamantopoulos. "Not all garlic is equal for health benefits, just as not all garlic is equal for nutrition and flavor." The in vitro studies showed that only a small subset of garlic exhibited meaningful antiviral activity, regardless of growing location, suggesting that the properties are linked to the variety itself. Notably, the same cultivars demonstrated activity against both COVID-19 and influenza, indicating broad-spectrum potential.
The research establishes a scientific foundation for a new premium category within the health industry, Diamantopoulos noted. The company is pursuing distribution partnerships, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical collaborations, and retail expansion. Throughout the festival, Diamantopoulos and the SupaGarlic team will be available to discuss published research, commercial development plans, and opportunities for strategic partnerships.
"The future of garlic nutraceuticals will not be commodity-based. It will be health-specific," Diamantopoulos said. "We are moving towards identified cultivars with targeted functional properties, proprietary formulations, traceable genetics, and evidence-based health positioning." The company emphasizes that biological activity depends on the underlying garlic cultivar, extraction methods, formulation techniques, and processing controls, creating opportunities for intellectual property development in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and pharmaceuticals.
The scientific studies referenced were conducted in laboratory settings and do not constitute clinical evidence in humans. These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and SupaG Health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
