Brassica Protection Products LLC was founded in 1997 to develop and market to the public scientifically-proven, highly-effective, cancer-protective foods, functional foods, nutriceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.  The company is commercializing technology developed by Paul Talalay, M.D. and Jed W. Fahey, M.S., Sc.D., researchers in the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Paul Talalay's research has concentrated on the cancer preventive properties of diet, particularly vegetables. In 1992 and 1994, Dr. Talalay published work showing that broccoli contains sulforaphane, a very potent natural inducer of Phase 2 enzymes that helps the body detoxify carcinogens. Animal models used in Dr. Talalay's research show significant prevention of cancers. Human studies are now underway.

The publicity generated by this work is the key factor in consumers' belief that broccoli is among the most important vegetables for inclusion in a diet to protect against cancer.

In September 1997, Dr. Talalay and Dr. Fahey, in collaboration with other Johns Hopkins scientists, published a paper in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, USA explaining that broccoli sprouts-three-day old broccoli plants-are an exceptionally rich source of sulforaphane. Broccoli sprouts contain levels of sulforaphane 20-50 times more concentrated than mature broccoli and are more consistent in composition.