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2015 Review: The Key Ingredient Launches

Dec 2015

2015 was characterized by a fall in commodity prices after several uninterrupted years of rising prices. In Europe, the end of the EU milk quota system, coupled with various other market factors have led to a well-documented oversupply of milk and a subsequent fall in prices. Sugar intake has been an important topic for years, but 2015 was yet another major year with anti-sugar movements increasing. In the US, the big regulatory news of 2015 was the FDA’s final determination on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which requires manufacturers to stop using them by June 18, 2018, or submit a food additive petition for the safe use of PHOs. Overall, it was clear this year that clear label and free from foods have now truly entered the mainstream, while consumers who are regularly reduce their meat consumption rather than forgoing it altogether are also shaping new product development efforts. Key themes in ingredient development this year therefore included: clean label, vegetarian options, cost reduction, sodium replacement, protein enrichment with alternative proteins and vegetable fortification. Our 2015 review looks at some of this year’s supplier highlights.   


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Hinoman, Ltd. has launched Mankai, a vegetable whole-protein ingredient with high nutritional value based on duckweed. Mankai is an aquacultured source of vegetable protein with exceptional nutritional value. The vitamin and mineral-rich Mankai plant is a native of Southeast Asia, and has been enjoyed in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam for generations. Hinoman’s hydroponic technology enables it to grow the product faster, and in large quantities, without pesticides, while guaranteeing a high protein content of at least 45% by dry weight. Mankai is the world’s smallest vegetable – 0.5mm (less than 1/5 inch). Due to its small particle size, it can be easily incorporated in its natural form into food or beverage applications.