sweets processing 5-6/2021

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ZDS

 
 
 
 
 

Healthy, sustainable, natural – current trends for the food industry

More than ever before, the past few months have brought about an increased level of environmental and health consciousness amongst consumers. Plant-based products, produced and processed in a sustainable manner, as well as those with health-promoting benefits, are the main focus here. This development has been in the works for years and has only been accelerated through the events of the past year.


Consumers are more at home and take time for their meals. If fruit bars were particularly popular in the past as snacks on the go, we are currently experiencing a significant increase in the consumption of breakfast cereals, for example.

The market share for plant-based products has recently displayed double-digit growth, while forecasts project further growth of up to 14 % in this product category until 2024. As part of a modern and healthy lifestyle, consumers are also adapting their nutrition to ensure it is sustainable.

Ingredients specialist Doehler´s wide-ranging portfolio of sustainably produced raw materials, certified by Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ and SAI/FSA, among others, offers the appropriate solutions. The company has developed concepts based on almond, nut, seed, cashew or coconut, which are used to supply fats and to create a creamy mouthfeel. These products are particularly well-suited for use in desserts and chocolate, as well as dairy-free products. In addition, the selection also comprises cereals, such as oats, rice and malt. Along with their authentic taste, they create a natural sweetness and healthy nutritional profiles and are therefore ideal components for current trends such as reduced sugar and clean labels.

Today’s consumers expect food to do more than simply taste good. Hear, see, taste, feel and smell – enjoyment with all the senses is the idea here. The taste should be surprising and stand out from the mainstream. Consumers are also paying more attention on the source and naturalness of the ingredients.

The colour of a food not only evokes associations, creates expectations and thus influences the purchasing decision – it even has an effect on how the taste is actually perceived. Colourful ideas are particularly suitable for implementation in baked goods, which are not just healthy, but also eye-catching.

Black is a colour often associated with properties such as noble, festive, luxurious, courageous, strong, impressive or secretive. With Black Diamond, Doehler has a natural black colour solution based on colouring foods which is ideal for use in confectionery and can be used in clean label applications. White is also in great demand in food and beverage applications, as it provides confectionery applications such as hard caramels or chewing gum with a vibrant and glossy appearance.

The perfect crunch is also an important criterion. A unique crunch, attractive visual effects and a delicately creamy consistency: “irresistible” taste and unmistakeable texture belong together.

Consumers are placing ever more value on naturalness, organic cultivation and ingredients that are still as natural as possible and have only undergone few and particularly gentle processing steps even for pure indulgence products such as snacks, cereals or chocolate. And what is better suited here than pure fruit? Fruit combines naturalness, indulgence and health in perfect harmony. Freeze-dried, or in slices, small pieces, as powders, or whole fruits, they not only provide great enjoyment in the taste department, but are also visual highlights. Thanks to extremely gentle freeze drying, shape and colour of the raw materials are optimally
retained.

Honey-based granulates or those based on 100 % fruit are used to create a natural character and authentic taste. Whether delicate, fruity or crunchy, the natural ingredients give snacks, snack products and chocolate products an unmistakeable crunch and “unforgettable” taste sensation. Granulates with the taste profiles coffee, caramel, yoghurt or cocoa-malt are currently particularly popular.

In addition to health-promoting products, solutions that convince thanks to naturalness and reduced sugar content are also in demand. Natural and sustainable foods and beverages with less sugar and clean label positioning are particularly popular, while still ensuring full enjoyment.

To add a dash of healthiness to baked goods, they can be refined with proteins, fibres and vegetables to give them that extra portion naturalness. The natural ingredients from Doehler can also help consumers meet their recommended daily allowance of vegetables, thereby supporting a healthy lifestyle. The plant-based proteins, fibres, and vegetable granulates or purées, as well as seeds are easy to use, rendering the addition of fresh vegetables unnecessary.

High degrees of standardization mean the products are available in the same quality throughout the year, therefore providing maximum flexibility. The positive effects are manifold, with the optimized nutritional value and visual effects created by vegetable inclusions just two of these. Using these products can also help achieve an improved Nutri-Score compared to standard market products.

With its comprehensive portfolio of natural ingredients and product solutions, Doehler is supporting a healthy, plant-based and sustainable future for our planet. In line with the company slogan “We bring ideas to life.”, and as a provider of complete ingredient systems and integrated solutions, the company therefore develops innovative and sustainable concepts with its customers – from the idea, to implementation, to the shelf.

 

http://www.doehler.com


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