Home / Insights / The Clean Label-Friendly Alternative to Traditional Stabilizers for Meat Applications

The Clean Label-Friendly Alternative to Traditional Stabilizers for Meat Applications

Many of the current global consumer trends are having a big impact on today’s meat industry:

The demand for protein has never been greater.
Snacking – especially meat snacks as convenient sources of protein – is on the rise.
More consumers are cooking meals at home and turn to packaged meats for help.
Consumers are reading the package label and want to feed their family the best. They seek out cleaner label meat products that are free from hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives and stabilizers.
Consumers are very interested in more nature-based or recognizable ingredients.

There has been growing interest over the years to help meat producers find a cleaner label alternative to the stabilizers and phosphates traditionally used for meat and poultry applications. However, stabilizers serve several purposes. They help to increase water-holding capacity that leads to higher yield and stabilize emulsions, improve texture, and enhance other sensory properties such as tenderness and juiciness. Because of their functionality, it has been hard to find an alternative, let alone a cleaner label alternative – until now…

A Nature-Powered Solution

NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber is nature-based and upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry. A fiber ingredient, it is also a unique solution for solving a number of key challenges for meat producers:

Strengthens brand positioning as clean label-friendly and provides differentiation
Aligns with consumer needs for more recognizable ingredients
Can be listed as citrus fiber on the label*
Supports dietary fiber intake
Maintains juiciness and tenderness
Texture, color and taste of meat products remain optimal
Increases cooked yield
Reduces purge
Compatible with standard manufacturing processes, including injection

Want more details about how NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber performs in meat applications? Find out if NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber or another great solution from our nature-based portfolio is right for you. Contact us today!

*Not all products and claims are available/approved in all markets. Check your National labeling requirements for guidance.

Home / Insights / 6 Reasons Why Citrus Fiber is A-peeling to Food & Bev Formulators

6 Reasons Why Citrus Fiber is A-peeling to Food & Bev Formulators

1. Start With an Upcycled Ingredient

It all starts with an abundant supply of sustainably sourced citrus peels, a byproduct of the juice industry. Citrus peels have a high pectin content. In addition, this novel composition of soluble and insoluble fiber has excellent water-holding capacity. It’s a win-win for consumers and formulators alike.

2. It Supports a Range of Clean Label-Friendly Solutions

NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber was developed to support your clean label goals:

Supports fat reduction
Supports sugar reduction
Egg substitution/vegan formulations
No E-number required in Europe
Can help you meet requirements for kosher, halal, vegan, non-GMO, allergen- & gluten-free food products
Can be listed as citrus fiber on the label*

*National labeling requirements should be considered in the country of use

3. The Possibilities–and Applications–Are Endless

NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber supports water-holding, texture, mouthfeel enhancement, emulsion stabilization and syneresis control in a wide range of applications and can be used in combination with other CP Kelco portfolio offerings. See how we can help you create consistent emulsion stability by viewing our prototype video for a low-fat, vegan mayonnaise-like dressing here.

4. It Can Be a Great Alternative to Supply-Challenged Ingredients

NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber can help reduce the use of or act as an alternative to starch, sugar, oil, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, methylcellulose, egg and other ingredients that may be hard to source now. Find more information here or contact us for assistance.

5. It Is Easy to Work With

NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber is compatible with standard manufacturing processes. Enjoy this prototype video for a refreshing mango-flavored drink to see how easy it is to activate with a low use level. We also invite you to join us at one of our innovation labs to discover more of our amazing prototypes.

6. Our Commitment to Sustainability

Consumers want products that are not only good for you but good for the environment too. CP Kelco strives to be a sustainable partner in your supply chain. See the steps we are taking to live up to our commitment.

Keep in Touch!

Want more details about NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber for your applications? Find out if this ingredient or another great solution from our nature-based portfolio is right for you.

Home / Insights / Formulating Dairy Alternative Beverages with Better Suspension and Texture

Formulating Dairy Alternative Beverages with Better Suspension and Texture

In the competitive dairy alternatives market, taste and texture are what drive loyalty – and consumers do not want to compromise. They expect the products they purchase to meet their taste and texture standards, which are based on their familiarity with dairy.

For formulators, competing with dairy milk means attaining the suspension of insoluble ingredients for added nutrition, viscosity, mouthfeel and stabilization for visual appeal. KELCOGEL^® HA-B Gellan Gum is considered the gold standard for suspension of insoluble ingredients. It can be used in combination with other texturants to tailor mouthfeel.

Now CP Kelco has a new, strong value proposition for achieving stability and viscosity in dairy alternative beverages: Try KELCOGEL^® HA-B Gellan Gum together with NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber for body, viscosity and mouthfeel. NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber addresses the need for nature-based, clean label-friendly and recognizable ingredients. it can be listed as simply citrus fiber on the label. Upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry, NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber supports dietary fiber intake and increased viscosity with a light, refreshing mouthfeel. It may also provide cost savings for dairy alternative beverage manufacturers who typically add gums for mouthfeel, such as locust bean gum that is in short supply.

CP Kelco’s Portfolio of Dairy Alternative Beverage Solutions

CP Kelco offers a nature-based portfolio of ingredient solutions to help meet your formulation needs and deliver a dairy-like drinking experience for consumers.

We can help…

Support clean label-friendly formulations
Support stability, suspension, body and texture
Support mouthfeel enhancement
Provide flexibility for easier processing
Provide potential cost savings opportunity

Let us help you find the solution that is best for your plant-based beverage formulation. Contact us for ideas and recipes!

Home / Insights / 3 Ways to Clean Up with Bio-Based Ingredients

3 Ways to Clean Up with Bio-Based Ingredients

1. Sustainable is the new clean.

Consumers are developing a better understanding of how their personal care habits can impact the environment – especially our waterways. Biodegradable ingredients break down to water, CO₂ and organic matter within six months.

2. Help maintain skin health.

Another cleansing trend going mainstream is a better appreciation for managing stress and skin health. Goodbye harsh surfactants that can dry out skin. Say hello to gentler, calming ingredients that keep moisture in without upsetting skin’s pH and acid mantle.

3. Have fun with innovative textures.

Suspend exfoliating scrubbers or beads. Go luxuriously thick or water-thin or even waterless. New powders, bars, gels and jellies add life to the daily routine.

Nature-Powered Ingredients to Help

ARBALON^® Cellulose Liquid

Our biodegradable, fermentation-derived stabilizer has a unique cellulose structure that forms an invisible 3D net to evenly suspend scrubbers, decorative or fragrance beads and more. Effective in high-surfactant or low/no water formulations. Ready to use and fully activated.

KELTROL^® Xanthan Gum

This versatile, fermentation-derived ingredient is known for its unique smooth flow behavior, silky feel and even texture. It provides high viscosity at low shear rates for foams, suspensions and emulsion stability. It also provides low viscosity at high shear for pumpability. Plus, you get exceptional stability and thickening characteristics for a wide range of products.

GENU^® Carrageenan

A multifunctional water-binding agent, this ingredient provides a creamy texture to emulsions and a honey-like flow as it locks in moisture to increase hydration. It can be used to replace synthetics in shampoos and other products.

Our Nature-Powered Ingredient Portfolio

Home / Insights / Personal Care Recipe Card Downloads

Personal Care Recipe Card Downloads

Click the images or buttons below to download our personal care recipe cards.

Home / Insights / Using Nature-Powered Ingredients to Formulate Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Using Nature-Powered Ingredients to Formulate Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

The global market for burger and sausage alternatives has been experiencing tremendous growth – and is still expected to climb as more flexitarians embrace plant-based protein. However, CP Kelco has identified two trends that could impact success:

No Compromise. Consumers have high expectations. While consumers are willing to try new things, they expect the products they purchase to meet their taste and texture standards as well as have high quality ingredients at a reasonable price. In a 2021 Innova Market Insights survey, consumers were asked “what reasons would keep you from buying plant-based alternatives?” 32% answered, “Poor taste and texture.” Also of note, 19% cited concerns that it was “too processed/artificial ingredients.”
Good for You, Good for the Planet Too. According to Innova Market Insights, consumers buy plant-based alternatives because they believe the products are “healthier.”

Source: Innova Market Insights

With these trends in mind, CP Kelco developed a nature-based portfolio of ingredient solutions to help formulators

Support clean label-friendly formulations
Provide a more recognizable ingredient list (that may help brands gain market share)
Deliver an optimal, meat-like eating experience for consumers
Provide flexibility for easier processing

Meeting a Range of Formulation Needs

GENU^® Texturizer MA-1 is a dual-function solution comprised of methylcellulose and carrageenan. It is a highly effective and well-known gel at hot temperature. It provides cohesiveness and the addition of cold bite for easier cutting ability under cool conditions. For example, this would give manufacturers the opportunity to expand into sausage alternatives that can be enjoyed on a charcuterie board under cool conditions. It can be used with current equipment for ease and is less sticky than methylcellulose alone.

For those looking for an alternative to methylcellulose, CP Kelco offers KELCOGEL^® MA-60 Gellan Gum. A soluble fiber produced by fermentation, this multifunctional ingredient provides hot bite and a meat-like texture. It is extremely easy to use with improved dough rheology. Of course, gellan gum is already known as a go-to ingredient for solving plant-based protein challenges.

For extra juiciness during the eating experience, GENU^® Pectin MA-50 can be used in combination with KELCOGEL^® MA-60 Gellan Gum. This clean label-friendly ingredient is sourced from citrus peels, a byproduct of the juice industry. When used with gellan gum, it delivers an optimal hot bite for a complete methylcellulose alternative solution.

NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber boost is a clean label-friendly and easily recognizable food ingredient that can enable starch substitution and stabilize emulsions. A fiber ingredient, it is made from sustainably sourced citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry. NUTRAVA^® Citrus Fiber boost supports dietary fiber intake and provides unique water holding capacity to increase cooking yield and juiciness. It supports meat-like texture for plant-based meat alternatives that appeal to the senses. Labeled as ‘citrus fiber,’ it also does not require an E number in Europe.

For tips and recipe cards to inspire your plant-based formulations, contact us.

Home / Insights / Label-Friendly Alternatives to Locust Bean Gum

Label-Friendly Alternatives to Locust Bean Gum

Locust bean gum (LBG) is a popular, clean label-friendly ingredient that thickens, adds mouthfeel and helps with stabilization in a wide range of products. One of its strengths is its versatility. Application possibilities are as diverse as fruit preparations and water gel desserts; dairy products such as ice cream, yogurt and cream cheese; and plant-based dairy alternatives.

The problem is that LBG pricing has steadily and dramatically increased over the last 3 years. LBG market pricing is not always predictable for several reasons, including regional conditions, speculation, and traders who use their inventory of seeds as a fiber source for a secondary value stream. Supply and cost uncertainty has become a stress on food and beverage manufacturers.

Product developers are partial to LBG because it is a nature-based ingredient. But if you think you need to compromise on clean label or functionality in order to find a suitable replacement for your formulation, you don’t. CP Kelco has developed several clean label-friendly solutions that can deliver a similar texture and mouthfeel experience, as well as potential cost savings and supply stability.

Applications & Locust Bean Gum Alternatives at a Glance

	KELCOGEL® Gellan Gum	GENU® Carrageenan	GENU® Pectin	NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber
Dairy beverages Drinking yogurts	●	●	●
Plant-based beverages Drinking yogurt alternatives	●	●	●
Yogurt fruit prep		●	●
Cream cheese* Plant-based cream cheese alternatives		●
Plant-based spoonable yogurt alternatives			●
Ice cream		●	●
Water Gel Desserts		●

NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is considered a food ingredient and can be listed as citrus fiber on label.
*The standard of identity may vary in different countries

Solutions for a Variety of Applications

CP Kelco has also developed solutions for a variety of applications beyond those listed here. In addition, our team of technical experts is happy to work with you to minimize the amount of LBG needed in your formulation or find other ingredients to help with texture, stabilization, gelling, water-binding and syneresis control. For more ideas regarding LBG alternatives, contact us here.