IFT 2019: Clean label on the New Orleans menu

30 Apr 2019 --- This year’s Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Expo (IFT19), which will be held in New Orleans (June 2-5, 2019) will allow visitors to experience the newest products, latest trends and cutting-edge innovations. Visitors can immerse themselves in the industry’s largest collection of food ingredient, food safety & quality, technology, equipment, processing, and packaging suppliers; all assembled under one roof. Visitors will come face-to-face with over 1,000 exhibiting companies on the forefront of the latest global food trends, and see firsthand, the products designed to address them. Food ingredients on display will include sucralose, stevia, nitamycin, organic blue agave amber nectar, ultragrain pasta, pectin, isolated soy protein and green mandarin essential oil, etc.

Here are just a few of the exhibitors at this year’s event, with clean label and flavorful trends dominating. FoodIngredientsfirst will be featuring a detailed show preview before this year’s event. Exhibitors demonstrating highly innovative products are welcome to submit their preview to editorial@cnsmedia.com before May 10 (please include 100-word product description, Booth number, together with an illustrative application image).

Innova Market Insights will highlight the latest flavor trends (Booth #5051). The market researcher notes that consumers are moving out of their comfort zones to explore bolder flavors and multisensory food experiences. In fact, 64 percent of US consumers state that they “love to discover flavors from other cultures,” according to a 2018 Innova Market Insights consumer survey. The dynamic has led to several flavor trends, with 15 percent average annual growth in food & beverage launches with a flavor from East Asia (Global, 2014-2018), for example. Fresh and zesty citrus flavors are on the rise, with 26 percent growth reported in food & beverage launches with yuzu flavor (global, 2018 vs. 2017). The market researcher will also note how opportunities for reduced sugar intake are being exploited on four different platforms, as manufacturers address evolving consumer demands. Innova Market Insights' Taste the Trend Pavilion will feature a series of essential presentations on consumer trends, taking the development forward, with insights on targeting all generations. The display will feature in-depth analysis on issues driving the food and beverage landscape, including innovative packaging ideas and plant-based trends, to name a few.

Lycored (booth #801) will be highlighting its vibrant, red to yellow and orange-spectrum range of super-stable colorants from nature. Lycored (booth #801) will be highlighting its vibrant, red to yellow and orange-spectrum range of super-stable colorants from nature. In keeping with their ability to bring fresh vibrant colors to more foods naturally, Lycored recently unveiled a series of new, evocative names to identify its cast of colors featuring memorable shade names like SteadfastScarlet, OrangeOvation and StellarYellow. Every member of Lycored’s color cast is focused on quality, stability and giving a stellar performance at every stage, from process to the consumer. Made from natural lycopene extracted from the company’s own custom-bred tomatoes, Lycored’s colorants are proven by science and tested for stability across multiple applications including flavored waters, UHT treated dairy drinks, juice-based beverages, hard coated confectionery, cheeses, prepared fruits and syrups, yogurts, fortified gummies and Surimi seafood. Lycored is also featuring SANTE, the company’s proven umami taste enhancer that provides a high concentration of natural compounds for a more naturally delicious taste and a cleaner label formulation thanks to a reduction in levels of ingredients such as salt, MSG and yeast. Renowned chef and food innovator Charlie Baggs and his team of chefs will be supporting Lycored on the booth to demonstrate the taste-enhancing abilities of SANTE, Lycored’s, all-natural tomato-based alternative to sodium additives which offers significant levels of sugar and salt reduction (above 40 percent in many cases). Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations will prepare recipes including flavorsome fusions across vegetable and chicken broth, orange Thai curry and rice with vegetables. 

USDEC will allow visitors to taste a refreshing Calamansi Protein Gel Snack.As consumers’ interest in health and wellness foods continues to climb, delivering nourishing products that are simultaneously delicious, enjoyable and convenient becomes both a challenge and opportunity for food and beverage formulators around the world. Beyond nutrition, consumers are looking for their foods and beverages to check other boxes such as being made from sustainably produced sources and providing memorable experiences and global flavors. To showcase the neutral flavor profile, nutrition and functionality that US dairy ingredients, such as whey protein, milk proteins and whey permeate can uniquely provide, the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) (Booth #5613) developed on-trend snack prototypes that boost these benefits. USDEC will allow visitors to taste a refreshing Calamansi Protein Gel Snack as well as Protein-Powered Curry Hummus.

Gat Foods (Booth #5132) invites visitors to inspire their taste buds with the next-gen of RTE cereals manufactured with Fruitlift solution. Gat Foods (Booth #5132) invites visitors to inspire their taste buds with the next-gen of RTE cereals manufactured with Fruitlift solution. Fruitlift is an all-natural solution enabling manufacturers to produce cereals with no white sugar. It is a true fruit-based ingredient to replace refined sugars in RTE cereals. It consists of natural, fruity goodness that includes fiber and comes in a fruity flavor or can easily blend into a cereal brand’s signature flavor. Attendees can taste a range of samples featuring mild or just a hint of sweetness in different fruity flavors. Gat Foods invites cereal manufacturers to explore an innovative no white sugar solution for their health aware consumers.

AAK (booth #1722) will invite visitors to see and taste a few of the latest indulgent and better-for-you bakery, confectionery and non-dairy plant-based product trends. Attendees can taste a range of samples, all featuring one or more of AAK’s latest multi-functional fat solutions that are non-hydrogenated and low in saturated fat. AAK offers a wide variety of individual and multi-oil/multi-functionality solutions. They also work together with customers to “co-develop” customized solutions making the most of two or more companies combined expertise to ideate and develop innovative new products. AAK offers a wide range of vegetable oils including canola, primate-free coconut, organic, corn, palm & palm kernel/RSPO certified/segregated, soybean/project verified non-GMO and high oleic sunflower and safflower. AAK develops innovative and value-adding solutions to address formulation challenges of all kinds and across many industries – bakery, chocolate & confectionery, dairy, animal feed, frying, plant-based, special nutrition and more. 

Omya (Booth #3127) will showcase its Omya-Cal range of natural calcium carbonates, which improve production processes and formulations while adding health benefits. Omya (Booth #3127) will showcase its Omya-Cal range of natural calcium carbonates, which improve production processes and formulations while adding health benefits. Food and drink products fortified with this highly bioavailable and most concentrated source of calcium support bone health, muscles and nerves. Providing a positive impact on texture and powder handling, the ingredient offers supreme flexibility: Fields of application include powdered foods, bakery products, cereals, extruded snacks, vegan and non-dairy drinks to various other foods and beverages. Also on display will be Omyafood for sports and vitamin premixes, as well as specialties from the company’s distribution portfolio. Omyafood 100-OG particles provide powdered sport nutrition products and vitamin supplements with multiple benefits. Besides optimizing flow, anti-caking and dusting, the consistent porosity of the particles offers a high carrier functionality. Particles have a loading capacity of up to 55 percent for vitamins, flavors and other actives. What’s more, the ingredient can be used as an efficient calcium fortification agent, allowing related claims on pack while being neutral in taste.

Cosucra Inc. (Booth #655) will be highlighting plant-based nutrition solutions with a focus on sustainability, having launched operations in all three countries during the past 12 months. Cosucra Groupe Warcoing has been manufacturing naturally grown specialty food ingredients since 1852, with a current focus on yellow peas and chicory root. Cosucra with its technological, sustainability and farm to fork traceability leadership positions, is well positioned for the future in an ever increasing plant based nutrition consumer demand with the commissioning of our €35 million investment in Belgium during 2018 to increase the capacity of Pisane pea protein, Swelite functional pea fiber, Nastar and Nastar Instant (pre-gel) functional pea starches. In 1990, Cosucra launched pea product solutions. Prototype concepts will include: Almond Milk made with Pisane pea protein containing a significantly higher nutritional profile; a Gluten Free Cookie made with Nastar functional pea starch which provides crumb structure and strength when replacing gluten; and Plant Based Burger/Slider made with Pisane pea protein, Swelite functional pea fiber and Nastar Instant pre-gel functional pea starch to provide plant based protein, juiciness, increase yield, shape control, emulsification and excellent binding of water/fat (1 part Swelite binds 5 parts water and 5 parts fat).

Kemin Food Technologies will demonstrate how the company can help meet labeling goals without sacrificing on shelf-life. Kemin Food Technologies (Booth #3549) will demonstrate how the company can help meet labeling goals without sacrificing on shelf-life. Kemin Food Technologies (Booth #3549) will demonstrate how the company can help meet labeling goals without sacrificing on shelf-life. Kemin formulation expertise and an extensive portfolio of shelf-life solutions can help manufacturers achieve “claimability” with label claims that give consumers what they are seeking. Kemin will feature several new and expanded product lines at IFT19 for a range of applications, including:
• Corn and flour tortilla solutions: A complete suite of solutions for appealing, high-quality tortillas, including everything from complete drop-in solutions and premixes, to individual functional ingredients including mold inhibitors, enzymes, emulsifiers and gum blends. Solutions are available in liquid and dry varieties – Kemin has clean label, organic and non-GMO options available.
• Fat and oil solutions for snack food and bakery products: Kemin offers a full range of antioxidant solutions, including GT-FORT, a consumer-friendly line of GRAS plant extracts that assists with oxidation control, significantly delaying lipid oxidation, which lengthens the shelf-life of food and maintains brand consistency.
• Meat and poultry solutions: Kemin is a one-stop shop for meat and poultry solutions, with the ability to offer both shelf-life extension and food safety options, solving your color, flavor and microbial challenges. Kemin experts can help food and beverage manufacturers maintain safety and freshness while supporting desired claims, plus they help with ingredient sourcing, handling, processing, and delivery. 

Butter Buds Food Ingredients (booth #1434) invite attendees to stop by and sample several demos created with a New Orleans flair to showcase the latest dairy alternative, plant-based flavor ingredients, along with a sampling of organic and clean label flavor solutions. This includes:
• Buttery Chicken Curry, a non-dairy entree featuring 0.83 percent Non-Dairy Buds Ghee Type (49505) and 0.19 percent Non-Dairy Buds Asia (49518).
• Keto Bites with 0.38 percent Non-Dairy Butter Flavor (49504) and 0.38 percent Butter Buds 8x Non-Dairy LD (49380).
• Malted Bark with Pecans with 0.25 percent Butter Buds Sautéed Butter Flavor (Natural) (66927).
• Iced Kringle featuring 0.40 percent Natural Ghee Buds (66896).
Non-dairy specialty flavor ingredients from Butter Buds offer all of the functionality and flavor performance needed to create to create “consumer-pleasing products, without the dairy allergen.” These dairy alternative ingredients can help developers create dairy-free plant-based products, ranging from nutritional bars and beverages to cheese sauces, yogurt and more. 

Other highlights at IFT 2019 will include a number of Specialty Pavilions:
• IFTNEXT Start-Up Alley: IFTNEXT Start-Up Alley where visitors will get to meet one-on-one with a select group of leading, cutting-edge entrepreneurs developing some of the most innovative products and solutions.
• Organics Pavilion: Showcasing the latest products and trends in organics and non-GMO project verified products by suppliers from around the globe.
• New Exhibitor Pavilion: Designed to make it easy for attendees to locate the newest products and technologies, this program is prominently featured in event materials, on the event website, in the mobile app, and more.
• Food Safety Pavilion: Looking for what’s next in food safety and quality assurance technologies, processes, services, and packaging? Then you can’t miss visiting IFT's comprehensive Food Safety Pavilion one of you must see destinations at IFT19.
• Traceability Central: Hear firsthand about the latest advancements, technologies, and platforms being developed to address the world’s food traceability challenges. Presentation topics explored will include data sharing frameworks, data analytics and AI, innovations in traceability standards, blockchain advancements and more. Also, Traceability Central will host several traceability solution providers who will be available to answer questions and share their latest products and technologies to help you solve your traceability challenges.