Health-focused and environmentally-conscious consumers are demanding that hydrocolloids be made closer to nature. Hydrocolloids are crucial to food and beverage formulation; however, manufacturers face a new challenge in including them while boosting nutritional profiles.
Functional ingredients and hydrocolloids increase product consistency, control texture, flavour, colour, and shelf life, and improve the gelling effect. Common hydrocolloids are starch, gums and gelatin.
Hydrocolloids' hard-working, behind-the-scenes support enables products to function at their best and can help achieve consistent textures within protein ingredients in low-pH formulations. A small amount of Kelvogel Gellan Gum or Genulacta Carrageenan can achieve similar results for neutral pH protein beverages.
The push behind hydrocolloid innovation is due to rising customer demands for clean product labels with ingredients that appear closer to nature. ADM research indicated that under half of the consumers are familiar with specifically named hydrocolloids, pointing to an opportunity to use new hydrocolloid solutions that meet this clean image.
The solutions will maintain the structure and viscosity of plant-based alternatives while remaining appealing to the market.
Affordability is another crucial factor manufacturers must consider when creating product price points because consumers want healthier items at a lower cost.
Leading hydrocolloid supplier CP Kelco has navigated this market cautiously, experiencing rising processing prices, supply instability, and crop fluctuations. To overcome these challenges, they have worked with manufacturers to reduce sugar, fat, and oil in recipes, stretch tomato and fruit pulp supplies, and protect against chain vulnerability.
Innova Market Research has shown that global consumers value planetary health over human health for the first time, with 25 percent wanting environmental considerations to be a part of product development.
This shift has pushed hydrocolloid manufacturers to focus on resources and using organic and carbon-neutral ingredients.
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