There is growing consumer demand for natural and organic ingredients. What impact is this trend having on strategic corporate decisions when it comes to formulation?
“In Europe, there is no regulation concerning the term ‘natural’, to define what is natural and what is not. This is not the case for the term ‘organic,’ however. For organic products, European regulations are clear, and this makes it possible to develop new organic solutions to formulate organic food. At Roquette, we listen to the market, and we believe this trend is here to stay, especially in Europe where the market is growing very fast.”
When it comes to baby food, what current trends would you pick out?
“Organic food is perceived by consumers as more natural, more transparent and safer. For this reason, the 'organic’ label is greatly appreciated in all food segments, but especially in baby food. Among markets carrying the maximum number of organic claims in 2020, the baby food sector was the #1 category globally.”
“If we focus on ingredients, 65 % of new product launches with organic maltodextrin were done for baby formula/milk, baby cereals and biscuits. Western Europe is the main region, with Germany at the top, followed by France and Belgium.”
How are these trends impacting the baby food sector?
“Beyond reformulation, this trend has prompted producers to create new organic versions of their traditional range. Consumers can easily identify organic products thanks to the organic label, which follows strict criteria established by the regulation.”
“For new parents who need to have peace of mind knowing they are getting highly reliable, organic and safe food for their little babies, Roquette provides GLUCIDEX® Premium Organic, a range of organic maltodextrins.”
What benefits can organic maltodextrins offer baby food formulators?
“In baby food formulations, carbohydrates are typically maltodextrins, dried glucose syrups, or lactose. Baby food products require the highest quality whether for the traditional version or the organic version. GLUCIDEX® Premium Organic maltodextrin range is designed to offer safe and high tolerance 100 % glucose-based energy for the healthy growth of babies.”
<“After effort, glucose is turned into glycogen to replenish muscles’ energy stores, and brings energy to the brain. It is the only energy substrate that is used by the central nervous system. Fructose also provides energy, but it has been shown to elevate blood triglycerides and LDL ('bad cholesterol’) after a meal. This effect is higher than what is observed with glucose.**”
“Partial replacement of lactose with maltodextrins can also lead to reduced crying and digestive discomfort in infants. Lactose may not be completely digested in the small intestine by young babies and can lead to fermentation in gut and generate gas, discomfort, which may be linked to colic and crying.”
“A final point is osmolarity, or osmotic concentration - the measure of solute concentration, usually expressed as Osm/L. This influences hydration. For optimum hydration, product osmolarity needs to be close to the body’s osmolarity (280-320 mOsm/kg). It has to be ≤ 300 mOsm/kg to be hypo or isotonic. A concentration of above 300 mOsm/kg, can cause body dehydration and diarrhea. In the intestine, water is absorbed together with glucose and sodium. As GLUCIDEX® maltodextrins are made of 100 % glucose, this helps to stimulate hydration.”
How can Roquette help formulators interested in using nutritive organic carbohydrates?
“As explained earlier, Roquette offers a range of organic nutritive carbohydrates meeting the needs of baby food formulations. At Roquette, we believe that we are successful when our customers are successful. Our dedicated customer technical service and applications experts are sharing their know-how to find the right solution for the customers’ challenges and help formulate innovative food and nutritional solutions.”
What does the future hold for nutritive organic carbohydrates in this sector?
“At Roquette, we have started our organic journey with nutritive carbohydrates, and we continue working to develop our organic offer within our plant-based solutions with a further range of products. Our goal is to answer consumers’ expectations according to their lifestyle choices, their age, where they live and what they do, thanks to a plant-based approach.”
* source: Innova Market Insights, 2019
** source: Sievenpiper et al., 2014; Havel, 2005; Aeberli et al., 2011
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