CP Kelco launches gellan gum solution for plant-based beverages

12 Nov 2021 --- CP Kelco has unveiled Kelcogel DFA Gellan Gum, a single-ingredient, dual-function solution for formulating dairy alternative beverages. 

Most dairy alternative beverage brands fortify their product with extra protein, calcium and vitamins, requiring help to ensure the micronutrients stay evenly suspended, outlines CP Kelco. 

Innova Market Insights has tracked the rise in plant-based food and beverages for many years, as reflected in its annual Top Ten Trends. 

The market researcher has outlined “Plant-Based: The Canvas for Innovation” as its number two trend for 2022. With personal health and global sustainability proving to be strong drivers of consumer choice, plant-based R&D has refocused from mimicking meat, fish and dairy to optimizing and diversifying options.

The desire for diet variation further boosts interest in plant-based beyond the traditional vegan and vegetarian sectors, leading to a 59% increase in new plant-based product launches from August 2020 to August 2021.

An alternative to locust bean gum?
Beverages often include locust bean gum as an additional texturizing ingredient to provide the viscosity and mouthfeel that consumers expect. 

Kelcogel DFA Gellan Gum, CP Kelco’s latest addition in the gellan gum product line, can help deliver the desired suspension and mouthfeel, enabling product developers to simplify their ingredient list.

The fermentation-derived ingredient can serve as a locust bean gum alternative and enable a simpler product label.“As consumer demand for plant-based dairy alternative beverages continues to boom, locust bean gum supply and pricing have been volatile globally. Our new Kelcogel DFA Gellan Gum serves as a proven alternative solution to replace or reduce locust bean gum in plant-based beverage formulations,” says Shaw Gilmer, senior director, biogums strategic platform at CP Kelco. 

“With our newest gellan gum grade, developers can deliver a simpler product label and potentially reduce their total cost in use without compromising on quality. It’s a win-win for both the dairy alternative drink producer and consumers.”

In a recent Special Report, CP Kelco flagged how locust bean gum is experiencing supply shortages and a price spike.

Nature-based solutions expand
While Kelcogel DFA Gellan Gum is the latest addition to the CP Kelco portfolio, the company’s dairy alternative beverage ingredient development and innovation started many years ago. 

CP Kelco offers a range of nature-based solutions. Nutrava Citrus Fiber is a food ingredient that enhances body and mouthfeel and provides partial suspension; Genu Pectin and Genu Carrageenan provide protein protection and other Kelcogel Gellan Gum products provide excellent suspension with low impact on viscosity for plant-based beverages. 

CP Kelco works with manufacturers worldwide to help them create the mouthfeel, taste and texture that consumers are seeking.

As a nature-based stabilizer solution for dairy alternative beverages, Kelcogel Gellan Gum was first discovered by CP Kelco more than 40 years ago as a bacterial culture in a lily pond. 

Today, gellan gum is produced via fermentation, and it keeps advancing in technological innovation.

Earlier this year, FoodIngredientsFirst spoke to hydrocolloids specialists who are tracking growth of this dynamic space, showcasing alternatives and spotlighting the latest thickening and gelling ingredients.

Edited by Elizabeth Green