Clean label take-off in North America

Arla Foods Ingredients’ natural proteins help clear the additive jungle

Growing consumer demand for natural, clean label foods is sweeping across North America. Arla Foods Ingredients is ready to respond with tried and tested concepts based on functional milk proteins.
According to Mintel, North America accounted for 58% of all natural product launches worldwide from April to September 2010 – a trend that reflects rising consumer awareness in the region about the use of artificial additives.
Minimising ingredients
“The US is an additive jungle, but today clean label is a clear trend. Frozen and retorted ready meals are a particular focus area,” says Soren Frorup, technical sales manager, who has just spent three years at the Arla Foods Ingredients office in the USA.
He points to traditional US food products such as mac & cheese, which may contain up to 30 ingredients. Arla Foods Ingredients aims to develop formulations with a maximum of eight.
Functional milk proteins effectively perform the role of emulsifier, texturiser and stabiliser. With just one addition, manufacturers can add creaminess and mouthfeel to their products and give low-fat products a full-fat taste and stability. This allows manufacturers to eliminate modified starches and gums from their recipes. Phosphate can also be eliminated from meat.
Simpler, faster process
Easier processing is another important gain.
“Food production typically involves up to seven steps. We can do it in two or three, giving manufacturers the benefit of a simpler, faster process with increased flow and capacity,” Frorup explains.
For all this functionality, manufacturers need only declare one ingredient on food product labels: whey protein concentrate – an ingredient many Americans positively associate with the sports nutrition sector.
Quality at low cost
“Back to nature is in fashion, and that’s where we are a good match with our Closer to Nature strategy,” Frorup continues.
“At the same time, manufacturers gain products that are improved in quality and reduced in price.”All-natural concepts developed by the functional proteins team are widely used in Europe, where the natural trend is well established. This knowledge is now being transferred and applied via the Twintell® Application Programme in customised solutions for North America.
Go to our overview of application opportunities here. For more information, including concept descriptions, contact sofro@arlafoods.com