Consumer behavior plays a critical role in the food industry today. One clear trend is the heightened scrutiny of food and beverage labels. Whether your target consumers are vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or simply health-conscious, product labels, of course, need to be clear and not misleading. More than that, they need to have an ingredient declaration that doesn't deter a consumer from making a purchase.

Consumers are interested in incorporating more plant-based foods into their diets but are unwilling to compromise on taste and texture. They want to see recognisable ingredients on the ingredient declaration and not a confusing list of chemical-sounding names. According to FMCG Gurus consumer research conducted in 2023, "two-thirds of consumers said they are concerned about hidden ingredients in food and drink disguised via complex labeling."

Whether working on the development of a plant-based formulation or re-formulating an existing product to reduce sugar, fat, or salt, food scientists and technologists must meticulously select functional ingredients that perform whilst delivering on the requirement for a clean label.

Striking a balance between achieving these goals and maintaining taste and texture is not easy. This is where carefully chosen food ingredients and food additives can become your secret weapon.

In this NewProtein special focus, you will find a round-up of some of the latest clean-label food ingredient solutions, including GNT's innovative EXBERRY^® carrot concentrate that allows clean-label red meat alternatives to change color during the cooking process.

Lallemand Bio-Ingredients Savory's new solutions for savory applications, Whole-Lyfe^® 950, and new to the Engevita^® range, Garlic-Parmesan-Style Powder, are featured.

Ingood by Olga offers a range of nutri-functional ingredients, including Peptipea^® pea protein hydrolysate, Sojyfib^® soy fibers, and Peakara^®, a complete source of essential amino acids from pea protein.

Suitable for use in a wide range of applications, Egg'n'Up egg replacers bind, gel, foam, emulsify, texturize, and thicken while delivering taste, texture, mouthfeel, and nutritional profile.

Ingredion's NOVATION^® Indulge 2940 starch is a non-GMO functional native corn starch suitable for the gelling and co-texturizing of dairy and alternative dairy products and desserts.

Ideal for application in plant-based meat, Novozymes Vertera^® ProBite delivers a succulent and juicy texture and has the unique advantage of requiring no labeling.

A study has found that BioVeritas clean label mold inhibitor is an effective alternative to calcium propionate in bread and does not alter the flavor profile of the finished product.

Manufacturers of plant-based meat will be interested in Meala’s proprietary platform which creates functional proteins designed to replace methylcellulose as binding and gelling agents thanks to their superior water retention capabilities.

The ROVITARIS^® Binding Solution powered by Rubi Protein™ is a clean-label, highly functional replacement for chemically derived binders such as methylcellulose.

Carrot Concentrate Allows Plant-based Meat to Change Color When Cooked

Formulating plant-based meat with GNT's clean-label EXBERRY^® Compound Red makes it possible to create highly realistic red meat alternatives that change color during the cooking process.
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Announcing Exciting New Additions to the Lallemand Bio-Ingredients Range

The clean-label, yeast-derived ingredients can be added to improve savory flavor, texture, and mouthfeel in a diverse range of food products.
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Ingood by Olga is Future-proofing Food With its Nutritious and Sustainable Plant-based Ingredients.

Ingood by Olga is a growth driver for the Olga Group's B2B activity and an essential feature of its export strategy. Our ambition is to develop new plant-based ingredients with an acute awareness of our environmental impact and a solid commitment to sustainability.
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Ingood by Olga: A Plant-based and Natural Ingredient for Confectionery!

PEPTIPEA^® is a pea protein hydrolysate that can replace gelatine in confectionery for vegan, non-allergenic and clean-label products.
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Innovative Clean-label Egg Replacers from Egg'n'up

Food manufacturers can remove eggs entirely using Egg'n'up unique plant-based egg replacers which perfectly emulate the versatile functionality of eggs while maintaining 100% clean-label products.
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A Functional Native, Clean-label Starch with Gelling and Improved Mouthfeel Capabilities

The new NOVATION^® Indulge 2940 functional native starch is a label-friendly ingredient that meets the demands of health-conscious consumers looking for an indulgent, plant-based texture in their foods.
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Meat-like Plant-based Meat Made Possible With Vertera^® ProBite

Crosslinking amino acids in plant protein substrates such as pea or soy isolates and concentrates, Vertera^® ProBite creates a firm protein gel network. This results in a perfect texture and meat-like bite in a wide range of plant-based meat products.
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The Clean Label Mold Inhibitor With No Compromise on Taste

A top sensory lab has confirmed that BioVeritas’ clean label mold inhibitor is highly effective and has a flavor profile to match the industry standard.
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Update on Meala FoodTech's Functional Proteins for Plant-based Meat

Meala’s proprietary platform creates functional proteins designed to be used as binding and gelling agents thanks to their superior water retention capabilities. Meala expects to launch its innovative products in the US and European markets in 2024.
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A Revolutionary Clean Label Binding Solution for Plant-based Meat and Seafood Applications

With application in plant-based meats and seafood, ROVITARIS^® can replace chemically derived binders without compromising on taste or texture. Download the whitepaper to discover why it is the ideal replacement for methylcellulose.
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CuliNEX Launched the Future of Clean Label Food Product Development at Expo West

Recognizing that no two projects are alike, CuliNEX offers tailored solutions to meet the distinct needs of each client. Whether you're at the beginning stages of your clean label journey or looking to overcome a complex challenge, CuliNEX can help you carve out a unique position in the market.
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