Related CP Kelco Innovation Center Content:
Author: Andrew Faust
Related CP Kelco Innovation Center Content:
Related CP Kelco Innovation Center Content:
Related CP Kelco Innovation Center Content:
- CP Kelco Innovation Center Launch Overview (English)
- CP Kelco Innovation Center Launch Overview (Chinese)
- Module No. 1 Innovation with Fermentation
- Module No. 2 Unlocking Functionality
- Module No. 3 Meeting & Anticipating Our Customers’ Needs
- Suya Earth Burger Sizzle Recipe
- Cauliflower Noodles Sizzle Recipe
The best ideas come from collaboration. That’s a core reason why we built our new global innovation center in Atlanta and designed it with customer collaboration in mind. Click here to take a virtual tour of CP Kelco’s global innovation center.
With campaigns such as ‘Veganuary’ attracting global attention and 51% average annual growth in food and beverage launches with plant-based claims (Innova Market Insights: Global, CAGR 2015-2020), the plant-based diet has gone mainstream. One in four consumers globally is “actively trying to increase consumption of plant-based protein,” according to Global Data’s 2020 dairy trend report.
It’s no wonder that plant-based, dairy alternative products continue to grow in popularity. They can appeal to consumers with lactose intolerance and dairy allergies as well as the flexitarians and food explorers. There has been a boom in new product launches of spoonable, non-dairy yogurt alternatives since 2015, projected to be seven times that of dairy yogurt, according to Innova Market Insights. Drinking yogurts – both dairy and plant-based – are also becoming a popular protein snack loved by all ages. Making the snack even more convenient for both consumers and companies alike, the idea of ambient drinking yogurts (ADY) was born. Without a need for refrigeration, ADY can be stored anywhere and enjoyed anytime. See why we’re making the case for long shelf-life drinking yogurt here.
Taste and texture are key – especially when trying to reach the flexitarian consumer and compete with traditional dairy counterparts for shelf space. Consumers expect plant-based, non-dairy yogurt alternatives to have all the great qualities of dairy – the same rich mouthfeel, texture and creaminess – even a similar appearance. Textural challenges can arise from the absence of milkfat as well as the natural grittiness of plant protein. Earthy or beany notes can also impact flavor.
Choosing The Right Stabilizer System
The true secret to achieving success in plant-based, non-dairy yogurt alternatives is choosing the right stabilizer system. It can help solve the most common challenges in both stirred and sippable formulations: syneresis control, suspension of insoluble particles and protein protection, in addition to contributing to texture, body and mouthfeel.
GENU® Pectin is an easily recognized, label-friendly ingredient extracted from citrus peels. It can be used to protect proteins at an acidic pH and provide long-lasting stability over shelf life while also preventing sedimentation and syneresis. A well-known gelling agent, pectin can help formulators create a creamy, spoonable texture by delivering that missing “fat sensation” and optimize mouthfeel as it helps with flavor deliver.
KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum is a multifunctional, fermentation-derived ingredient for solving plant-based protein challenges, with a composition identical to the naturally occurring bacteria on water lily pond plants. It provides stabilization and suspension of insoluble protein, calcium, minerals and other particles in yogurt drinks while contributing minimal mouthfeel and ensuring a smooth pour.
The Health Halo
For its 2020 Top Ten Trends Survey, Innova Market Insights asked consumers around the globe why they chose to eat plant-based foods. Their top reasons included “it is healthier” and “it is better for the planet.” With a health halo adding to the growing interest in trying plant-based applications, a clean, recognizable label is also critical. Product developers should honor this perception of health and sustainability in their choice of stabilizers. Using nature-based ingredients such as GENU® Pectin and KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum will complement your plant proteins. Ask about grades available to meet claims of organic compliance, non-GMO, gluten-free and other clean label goals. Because of their multifunctional qualities, GENU® Pectin and KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum can also help formulators shorten their ingredient list overall.
When a product developer is able to connect all of the elements of innovation, there is no limit to the potential for success with plant-based, non-dairy yogurt alternatives.
1 Innova; Global, CAGR 2015-2020 YTD
2 Veganuary.com
3 GlobalData 2020 Dairy Trend Report
4 Innova Nutrition & Health Survey 2020
5 Innova Market Insights
Consumers across all segments like to read product labels before purchasing. They have great expectations for ingredient transparency and would like brands to show how “clean” their labels are. We’ve seen the rise of ‘clean beauty’ transforming the personal care market. The trend has also reached home care, including laundry detergent, fabric softeners and dishwashing detergent. (Should we call it clean cleaning?) Let’s take a look at how it started and how it’s going.
In 2020, a survey by IBM and the National Retail Federation looked at consumer shopping behavior in 28 countries.
Nearly eight in 10 survey respondents said that sustainability was important. Seven in 10 said they were looking for specific attributes in their product choice, and nearly six in 10 would change their shopping habits to help reduce negative environmental impact.
What do consumers look for? Here is a partial list of issues that could be important:
Not containing chemicals harmful to my family
Not containing chemicals harmful to the environment
Biodegradable
Free from plastics
Made from plants/vegan
Food-grade ingredients
Paraben free
Understanding of fragrance ingredients/use essential oils
Hypoallergenic/Gentle on skin
Cruelty free
Concentrated formula
No product waste/recyclable packaging
Treatment of employees and concern for community
As we can see from the list above, the issues reflect a concern of “doing no harm” to the health of humans, animals and our waterways.
Why Biodegradability Is Central to Sustainability
Manufacturers are turning to more plant-based surfactants, enzymes and other functional materials rather than petroleum-based solutions, and more concentrated formulations for less packaging. However, ingredients also need to be biodegradable to break down rapidly in a way that is not harmful to the environment or waterways.
Researchers estimate that about eight million metric tons of waste plastic enters the ocean every year. Microplastics – those scrubbing, pearlescent and fragrance beads used to differentiate home and personal care formulations – were part of the plastic problem. They began to appear in body washes, liquid face soaps, dishwashing liquid, liquid laundry detergents and fabric softeners in the ‘70s. Consumers liked the idea of scent capsules that helped provide long-lasting freshness. Manufacturers liked that they were economical and rinsed off easily.
However, the microplastics also passed straight through wastewater treatment systems, which were not designed to filter them. Since the microplastics were not biodegradable, they tended to accumulate in waterways and could be ingested by marine life, potentially entering our food supply. Many countries now ban the use of microplastics, and the search is on for a biodegradable alternative.
CELLULON® Cellulose Liquid: A Biodegradable Stabilizer
Any new technology to replace microplastics will require something to stabilize it in liquid formulations. CELLULON® Cellulose Liquid may be just the hero stabilizer that formulators need. Chemically identical to plant-derived cellulose, CELLULON® Cellulose Liquid is produced by a microbial fermentation process.
This provides several unique benefits:
- It is biodegradable and eco-friendly with a lifecycle not dependent on land and water usage
- It forms a 3D, net-like structure to easily suspend opacifiers
- High surface area-to-weight ratio
- Not sensitive to temperature, salt or pH
- Compatible with highly concentrated formulas
- Disperses easily
- Dilutes quickly
- Won’t thicken or affect pour viscosity
- Dependable, batch-to-batch repeatability for
scale up - Low cost in use
In summary, biodegradability should be an essential part of your sustainability commitment when looking to clean up your home care formulations.