Ingredients in Focus is Food Dive’s bite-size column highlighting interesting developments in the ingredients sector.
Specialty ingredient solutions provider Ingredion is leaning into its focus on texturizers with the launch of Fibertex CF.
The multi-benefit citrus fibers are texturizing food ingredients made from upcycled citrus peels. They are meant to provide “viscosifying power, gelling properties, mouthfeel enhancement and improved emulsion and texture stability over shelf-life,” the company said.
Consumers increasingly expect more out of their food. While many are looking to shorter ingredient decks and clean labels, they also don’t want to compromise on the eating experience — taste and texture included.
While citrus fibers traditionally have had a limited range of applications, Ingredion’s Fibertex CF products can fully or partially replace more expensive and volatile ingredients, such as egg, oil and tomato solids to mitigate cost and supply challenges without compromising texture, stability and eating experience in a range of applications, the company said.
Ingredion said that food and beverage companies can use its Fibertex CF Citrus fibers in dips, sauces and dressings to achieve the same texture with less oil; in bakery and snack items to improve softness, maintain texture longer and reduce fat; in food prep and cheeses to provide a smooth and creamy mouthfeel; and in fruit-based juices and smoothies to create rich and pulpy textures that consumers will love.
“As consumers continue to demand new products with naturally sourced, authentic ingredients, better nutrition and appealing packaging claims, we recognized the need for cost-effective, highly accepted ingredient options that can do more in terms of functionality and consumer preference,” said Deepa Sethi, global senior manager and innovation business lead, texture solutions at Ingredion in a statement.
Citrus fibers are growing in popularity. Eighty-five percent of consumers claim they accept and prefer to see them on labels, according to Ingredion’s 2023 ATLAS proprietary consumer research. The same study indicates that what’s on the label is also growing in importance, with 79% of global consumers stating they want to recognize a product’s ingredients and 50% claiming they are checking food ingredients more than last year.
Citrus fibers can be especially useful in plant-based foods that mimic certain textures of conventional products.
“Vegan products usually contain a series of additives to mimic ingredients such as eggs, resulting in a long and complex ingredient list,” said Julika Baseda, global R&D program manager at Ingredion. “The power of our FIBERTEX™ citrus fibers comes from their natural dietary fiber composition and inherent functionality to emulsify and bind water, which in turn provides thickness and texture stability – without the need to use egg.”
