Cellulose gum or carboxy methylcellulose (CMC) is an additive used in many food and beverage formulations to thicken, bind and emulsify. However, it may be perceived by consumers as not being clean label-friendly or “natural.” And for product developers, there may be challenges with supply reliability.

Depending on the functionality you are trying to achieve in your application, CP Kelco may have alternative ingredients that can help. Reformulation can even present an opportunity to save by using fewer ingredients overall, lowering cost in use, and cleaning up your label with nature-based, vegan-friendly ingredients. For example, easily recognizable GENU® Pectin is a label-friendly alternative that offers protein protection, great mouthfeel, texture and viscosity. KELTROL® Xanthan Gum is a workhorse ingredient that can provide mouthfeel and add viscosity. KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum can help you solve syneresis problems while offering stability, texture and mouthfeel. As an Upcycled Certified® ingredient*, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help you meet your sustainability goals as it supports mouthfeel, viscosity and syneresis control.

See the chart below for ideas and then contact us to discover the most suitable option to help solve your challenges while providing the best cost in use for your formulation.

KELTROL®
Xanthan Gum
GENU®
Pectin
KELCOGEL®
Gellan
Gum
GENU®
Carrageenan
NUTRAVA®
Citrus Fiber
Baked goods such as cake mixes, breads, pizza, tortillas X
Condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, barbeque sauces and dressings X X
Confectionery and fortified gummies X X
Fruit-flavored drinks, juice beverages and soft drinks X X
Dairy and dairy alternatives such as milk, cottage cheese, cream cheese/spreadable cheese, yogurt X X
Ice cream and frozen desserts X X
Meat, ready-to-eat meals and prepared foods such as soup mixes X X X
Sports nutrition supplements X X X

*Upcycled Certified® is a registered trademark of the Upcycled Food Association.

CP Kelco Invites All to Indulge with No Compromise at Fi Europe 2023

ATLANTA (Nov. 21, 2023) – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, is heading to Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) in Frankfurt this Nov. 28–30. Attendees are invited to “Indulge with No Compromise” as the company showcases innovative prototypes and discusses the latest texture trends at Booth 3.0C40, next to Azelis.

“With the demands and stresses of our daily lives, consumers are turning to indulgent food and beverages for comfort. However, they still prioritize their health and wellness and are mindful of the environment,” said Camille Berdugo, CP Kelco Senior Marketing Specialist. “When making food and beverage choices, consumers do not want to compromise on sustainability, wellness or enjoyment, while also keeping an eye on their budget.”

CP Kelco will show how it is possible to achieve indulgent texture in products that are “good for you” and good for the planet. Using the company’s nature-based ingredients, some of which are upcycled, extracted from plants, or derived from fermentation, it is possible to indulge with no compromise. “For example, consumers are buying more vitamin and mineral supplements than ever and will choose a soft and chewy gummy that tastes like a confectionery treat but is made without animal-based gelatin,” said Berdugo.

At FiE, CP Kelco invites show attendees to Booth 3.0C40 to indulge in a breakfast tasting session of vegan scrambled egg alternatives featuring KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum every day from 10 to 11am. In the afternoon, CP Kelco will host a soft-serve ice cream break featuring NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. CEST and Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.

 

CP Kelco will also showcase a variety of additional new prototypes including…

  • Cold cut alternatives with a meat-like sensory experience and short ingredient list, featuring GENU® Carrageenan.
  • Heat-stable, vegan gummies, including a sugar-free, Vitamin C gummy and a calcium-enriched gummy, made with GENU® Pectin.
  • A high-protein yogurt alternative made with label-friendly GENU® Pectin.
  • Oat-based matcha latte alternative featuring KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum for excellent suspension and smooth mouthfeel.
  • An indulgent and silky rich, emulsifier-free chocolate sauce made with NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber.

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial product manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights, meet manufacturers’ goals and address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Our key product lines include citrus fiber, pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, fermentation-derived cellulose, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate. Learn more at cpkelco.com.

CP Kelco Citrus Fiber Becomes First in the Marketplace to Achieve Upcycled Certification

ATLANTA (Oct. 18, 2023) – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, announces today that its citrus fiber, marketed as NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber for the food and beverage sector and KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber for the personal care sector, has been certified as an upcycled ingredient by the Upcycled Food Association.

“We are proud to be the first in the industry to have our citrus fiber recognized as an Upcycled Certified® ingredient,” said William Letsinger, Senior Director of Strategic Growth Initiatives for CP Kelco. “Our team is committed to ensuring we achieve a near-wasteless lifecycle for NUTRAVA® and KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber products.”

A nonprofit focused on preventing food waste, the Upcycled Food Association offers the first third-party certification program in the world for upcycled food ingredients and products through its Upcycled Certified Program. The association defines upcycled products as those containing food that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains and have a positive impact on the environment.

CP Kelco’s citrus fiber is upcycled from spent citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry near the company’s manufacturing facility in Brazil. Supporting a circularity mindset, leftover materials from the citrus fiber production process are repurposed. Nutrients in the process water are used to fertilize local crops, such as sugar cane.

NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is a highly versatile food ingredient that can be listed simply as citrus fiber on the label. It supports dietary fiber intake while providing emulsion stability, viscosity, mouthfeel enhancement, syneresis control and water-holding capacity. Easily recognizable by consumers, it can be beneficial for applications as diverse as baked goods, beverages, condiments, sauces, dairy, dairy alternatives, and meat and meat alternatives. In addition, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber supports the replacement or reduction of ingredients including traditional emulsifiers and stabilizers, starch, egg, butter, xanthan gum, tomato solids as well as fruit pulp.

Introduced in March 2023, KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber is a next-generation ingredient for personal care product development. It can be used in a range of products, from silky serums to luxe creams, to help formulators stabilize emulsifier-free formulations and deliver SENSational textures.

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial product manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights, meet manufacturers’ goals and address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Our key product lines include pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, fermentation-derived cellulose, diutan gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, and our new upcycled ingredients, NUTRAVA® and KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fibers. Learn more at www.cpkelco.com.

 

 

How We’re Helping to Reduce Food Waste

According to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, cutting food waste in half by 2030 is one of the United Nations’ top priorities. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 calls for “halving per-capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains.” Although millions of people face hunger across the globe, there is a big problem with food waste at retail and consumer levels in industrialized countries. Here are some of the ways we are helping:

Champion yogurt with a longer shelf life

In the yogurt industry, sometimes confusing “sell by,” “enjoy by” and “best before” dates on product labels are a key cause of food waste. According to our friends at Chr. Hansen, 80% of all yogurt waste is related to the expiry date. A recent Washington Post article goes one step further: “A lot of good food goes to waste, as consumers misinterpret expiration dates and throw away refrigerators full of edible food.”

Ambient yogurt and yogurt alternatives help prevent food waste by extending shelf stability for months. With no need for refrigeration, ambient yogurt can be enjoyed anywhere at any time, which adds to its convenience and snackability. Parents can safely pop an ambient yogurt snack in their child’s backpack before school without worry of it spoiling. Or it can be tucked in a gym bag for a quick, “good for you” protein snack after exercise, even if your workout is postponed until tomorrow – or next week. For dairy and alternative protein manufacturers, ambient yogurt increases geographical reach through the world of e-commerce with no cold chain distribution challenges.

In collaboration with Chr. Hansen, CP Kelco has developed an array of great-tasting, shelf-stable “vegurts,” plant-based alternatives to dairy yogurt in drinkable and spoonable thicknesses.

Learn more about our exciting prototype solutions.

Upcycling

Upcycling is the ultimate way to prevent food waste. Coined by German engineer Reiner Pilz, upcycling means giving an old product more value, so waste is diverted entirely. Inspired by this circular economy model, CP Kelco has long believed that upcycling is at the heart of creating a more sustainably sourced ingredient supply chain. That’s why we have upcycled ingredients in our nature-based portfolio:

GENU® Pectin

GENU® Pectin is the ingredient that started it all for CP Kelco. In fact, the “CP” in our name stands for Copenhagen Pectin. Upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant and sustainably sourced byproduct of the juice industry, we use as little fresh water as possible in processing. At our plant in Brazil, whatever is left over from our production process is recovered and turned into beneficial side products, including d-limonene, fertigation (fertilizer + irrigation) for nearby crops, and molasses and feed for 30,000 local farm animals.

This very consumer-friendly ingredient has been a staple for jams, jellies, yogurt fruit prep and acidified protein drinks (like the ambient drinking yogurt mentioned above!). It provides a juicy bite to plant-based meat alternatives, a creamy mouthfeel to dairy applications and heat stability for formulating gelatin-free gummies. In personal care applications, it is known for locking in moisture in luxe skin creams, stabilizing emulsions in sun care and ensuring smooth, silky hair care products.

Citrus Fiber

Citrus Fiber is likewise upcycled from spent citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry and locally sourced near our manufacturing facility in Brazil. Leftover materials from the citrus fiber production process are repurposed to support a circular mindset. Nutrients in the process water are used to fertilize local crops such as sugar cane. In addition, any peel byproduct left over is turned into animal feed that supplements the diets of 30,000 farm animals per year.

NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is a highly versatile food ingredient that can be listed simply as citrus fiber on the label. It supports dietary fiber intake while providing emulsion stability, viscosity, mouthfeel enhancement, syneresis control and water-holding capacity. Easily recognizable by consumers, it can be beneficial for applications as diverse as baked goods, beverages, condiments, sauces, dairy, dairy alternatives, and meat and meat alternatives. In addition, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber supports the replacement or reduction of ingredients including traditional emulsifiers and stabilizers, starch, egg, butter, xanthan gum, tomato solids and fruit pulp.

Introduced in March 2023, KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber is a next-generation ingredient for personal care product development. It can be used in a range of products, from silky serums to luxe creams, to help formulators stabilize emulsifier-free formulations and deliver SENSational textures.

Learn more about the small steps we can all take to reduce food waste.

CP Kelco Heads to FiSA 2023 in Brazil

 Building Tomorrow’s Tastes with Alternative Protein Innovation and Creative Options to Offset Inflationary Pressure

 

Atlanta, Georgia, US (7 August, 2023)CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions is heading to Food Ingredients South America (FiSA) in São Paolo, Tuesday, August 8 through Thursday, August 10. CP Kelco will be at booth E10, located near the main entrance.

This year’s theme for the largest food event in Latin America is “Building Tomorrow’s Tastes” or “Construindo o Sabor de Amanhā.” Reflecting on the theme, CP Kelco will showcase ingredient innovations that balance the needs of both the planet and the pocketbook, as a way to connect consumer demand for cleaner label products and offset inflationary pressures.

“We welcome everyone to join us for ‘brunch with CP Kelco,’ a master chef show presentation and tasting at the plant-based experience innovation hub on Wednesday, August 9 at 4:30 pm,” said Marina Boldrini, Senior Marketing Manager. “CP Kelco will highlight new trends in plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs. Come see our innovative advances in this hot growing category utilizing the latest nature-based ingredients,” she added.

There will also be daily tasting sessions at CP Kelco’s booth E10. Prototypes include plant-based offerings such as meatball alternatives, an almond and pea protein beverage, “vegurts” (ambient, plant-based yogurt alternatives suitable for e-commerce sales), a culinary cream alternative and a vegan liquid egg alternative. In addition, CP Kelco will feature functional gummies with a soft, chewy texture provided by pectin as a vegan alternative to animal-based gelatin. Our new pectin can help enable e-commerce and functional gummies sales as they become more heat stable, compatible with fortifying agents, and will not stick together.

Brazil is home to CP Kelco’s GENU® Pectin, which is upcycled from spent citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry near our award-winning plant in Limeira. For several years in a row, the plant has won top honors for its commitment to environmental practices and incorporating sustainability into the steps of the production process. For example, leftover materials from the manufacturing process are repurposed. Nutrients in the process water are used to fertilize nearby crops while leftover citrus peels are turned into animal feed that supplements the diets of 30,000 farm animals per year.

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial product manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights, meet manufacturers’ goals and address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Our key product lines include pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, refined locust bean gum and microparticulated whey protein concentrate. Learn more at cpkelco.com.

CP Kelco Launches NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber in Australia at foodpro 2023

Atlanta, Georgia, US (July 7, 2023) – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, is excited to launch NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber to the Australian market at the upcoming foodpro 2023 event in Melbourne on 23 – 26 July, 2023.

Upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is a sustainably sourced ingredient that was developed to meet the need for simpler product development and shorter ingredient lists. It contributes to dietary fiber intake while supporting mouthfeel, viscosity and more across a variety of applications – from beverages, baked goods and condiments to plant-based dairy and meat alternatives. With shortages and rising prices impacting supplies, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber supports the replacement or reduction of starch, egg, butter and xanthan gum in formulations. It also helps to extend tomato solids and fruit pulp in fruit applications for potential cost savings.

“We are thrilled to introduce NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber to Australian formulators,” said William Letsinger, Senior Director of Strategic Growth Initiatives. “Innovation, sustainability, efficiency and inflation are all top of mind this year. NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help by supporting the replacement and reduction of emulsifiers, butter, fruit solids and other ingredients for a shorter, clean label-friendly ingredient deck,” he added.

Exciting prototypes that solve vegan formulation challenges

CP Kelco’s technical experts have crafted several tasty solutions to showcase how NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can replace or reduce eggs and oil, as well as add indulgence, texture and mouthfeel when working with plant proteins. Attendees are invited try the following prototypes:

  • Vegan cream cheese
  • Low sugar strawberry jam
  • Vegan pancake instant dry mix
  • Low-fat plain vegan mayonnaise

Come experience CP Kelco’s NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber firsthand at Azelis stand B12, our distributor partner in Australia and New Zealand, and join us for a deeper dive with our discussion entitled “Next Generation Ingredient Developed from Upcycling” on Tuesday, July 25 at 1:30 PM on the Product Innovation Stage.

About CP Kelco: Unlocking Nature-Powered Success®

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial products manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights and meet manufacturers’ goals to address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Key product lines include gellan gum, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber.

New Uses for the Consumers’ Favorite, Pectin

GENU® Pectin from CP Kelco: Solving Market & Customer Needs for 75 Years

orange lemon and lime slices on white backgroundDid you know that the P in CP Kelco stands for Pectin? As the world’s leading producer of pectin, we are proud to serve the food, beverage and personal care industries. GENU® Pectin was the nature-based ingredient that started it all for us almost 75 years ago. 

With increasing demands for easily recognizable and sustainably sourced, clean label products, pectin is even more relevant today. Our pectin can be found in everything from functional gummies to jams and jellies, dairy products, plant-based alternatives and skincare.

Our sustainability story

We take a circular approach to ingredient development by starting with what Mother Nature gives us. GENU® Pectin is upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant and sustainably sourced byproduct of the juice industry. We use as little freshwater as possible in processing. 

Whatever is left over from our production process is turned into beneficial side products, such as fertigation (fertilizer + irrigation) for nearby crops and our patented, nutritious BRASPOLPA® animal feed for local farms. Even surplus heat from our production process at the Skensved, Denmark plant is repurposed for use in 2,200 neighboring homes, reducing both water usage and carbon emissions.

From fruit tree to fertilizer, watch our short video to see how GENU® Pectin is sustainably sourced and upcycled.

What's new?

You know pectin is a greatrainbow gummy vitamins spilling out of clear container product when formulators keep finding more and more uses for it. Led by its popularity with younger generations, sales of functional gummies have risen by 67% (CAGR 2017 – 2021), according to Innova Market Insights 2022 Lifestyle & Attitudes Survey. Pectin can act as an animal-free alternative to gelatin in functional gummies, allowing it to be marketed with a vegan claim. 

Pectin provides a pleasing texture and taste, is tolerant to calcium and minerals, and enables sugar-free formulations. The other exciting benefit is that functional gummies made with pectin have better heat stability compared to gelatin. So, heat waves and unrefrigerated transportation or storage will not have a harmful effect on product outcome.

If pectin can help gummies stand up to heat, they gain another advantage over gelatin: online sales possibilities. Since the pandemic, e-commerce has become the “most powerful player in the supplements space,” which includes functional gummies, according to a recent article by Natural Products Insider. Citing supporting data from Nutrition Business Journal, e-commerce comprised almost 25% of total sales in 2022 because it allows for “infinite shelf space.”

two yogurt cups one with rasberry and one with blueberriesAs a plant-based ingredient, pectin has great compatibility with plant-based yogurt alternatives. It helps to protect and stabilize protein, while adding creamy texture with a very pleasant mouthfeel. GENU® Explorer Pectin can also act as a starch alternative in plant-based drinking and spoonable yogurt alternatives, helping to eliminate a step for potential cost savings and allow for one less ingredient on the label.

Pectin can also helpburger with toppings formulators in the fast-growing plant-based burger alternatives segment by adding juiciness and providing a chewy, meat-like eating experience.

Let us show you how formulating with pectin can be the best move for your applications. Contact us.

New Uses for the Consumers’ Favorite, Pectin

GENU® Pectin from CP Kelco: Solving Market & Customer Needs for 75 Years

orange lemon and lime slices on white backgroundDid you know that the P in CP Kelco stands for Pectin? As the world’s leading producer of pectin, we are proud to serve the food, beverage and personal care industries. GENU® Pectin was the nature-based ingredient that started it all for us almost 75 years ago. 

With increasing demands for easily recognizable and sustainably sourced, clean label products, pectin is even more relevant today. Our pectin can be found in everything from functional gummies to jams and jellies, dairy products, plant-based alternatives and skincare.

Our sustainability story

We take a circular approach to ingredient development by starting with what Mother Nature gives us. GENU® Pectin is upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant and sustainably sourced byproduct of the juice industry. We use as little freshwater as possible in processing. 

Whatever is left over from our production process is turned into beneficial side products, such as fertigation (fertilizer + irrigation) for nearby crops and our patented, nutritious BRASPOLPA® animal feed for local farms. Even surplus heat from our production process at the Skensved, Denmark plant is repurposed for use in 2,200 neighboring homes, reducing both water usage and carbon emissions.

From fruit tree to fertilizer, watch our short video to see how GENU® Pectin is sustainably sourced and upcycled.

What's new?

You know pectin is a greatrainbow gummy vitamins spilling out of clear container product when formulators keep finding more and more uses for it. Led by its popularity with younger generations, sales of functional gummies have risen by 67% (CAGR 2017 – 2021), according to Innova Market Insights 2022 Lifestyle & Attitudes Survey. Pectin can act as an animal-free alternative to gelatin in functional gummies, allowing it to be marketed with a vegan claim. 

Pectin provides a pleasing texture and taste, is tolerant to calcium and minerals, and enables sugar-free formulations. The other exciting benefit is that functional gummies made with pectin have better heat stability compared to gelatin. So, heat waves and unrefrigerated transportation or storage will not have a harmful effect on product outcome.

If pectin can help gummies stand up to heat, they gain another advantage over gelatin: online sales possibilities. Since the pandemic, e-commerce has become the “most powerful player in the supplements space,” which includes functional gummies, according to a recent article by Natural Products Insider. Citing supporting data from Nutrition Business Journal, e-commerce comprised almost 25% of total sales in 2022 because it allows for “infinite shelf space.”

two yogurt cups one with rasberry and one with blueberriesAs a plant-based ingredient, pectin has great compatibility with plant-based yogurt alternatives. It helps to protect and stabilize protein, while adding creamy texture with a very pleasant mouthfeel. GENU® Explorer Pectin can also act as a starch alternative in plant-based drinking and spoonable yogurt alternatives, helping to eliminate a step for potential cost savings and allow for one less ingredient on the label.

Pectin can also helpburger with toppings formulators in the fast-growing plant-based burger alternatives segment by adding juiciness and providing a chewy, meat-like eating experience.

Let us show you how formulating with pectin can be the best move for your applications. Contact us.