DairiConcepts Introduces Sodium-Reducing Flavor Enhancer

Sensory evaluation panellists have described Ascentra applications as tasting more wholesome and balanced than those made with yeast extracts and yielding a more rounded flavor than traditional all-salt formulations.

1/13/2011 --- DairiConcepts has introduced Ascentra to meet the increasing need of food manufacturers to reduce the sodium content in the foods they produce yet offer flavors at full potential. Great taste and reduced sodium have been difficult to simultaneously achieve, but DairiConcepts claims to have developed the solution.

Ascentra is a powdered ingredient that can lower sodium content by 25 to 50 percent in a broad range of food systems as it boosts salt perception, savory nuances and umami effects. Made from a proprietary, milk-based fermentation process, during a five-year period Ascentra has been developed to include kosher and EU-certified versions of the base products which are available on maltodextrin or nonfat dry milk carriers. Ascentra does not contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP) or yeast extract, so consumer foods made with the ingredients can be produced with a clean label and “reduced sodium” and/or “gluten-free” declarations. The product withstands most typical food manufacturing processes.

Sensory evaluation panellists have described Ascentra applications as tasting more wholesome and balanced than those made with yeast extracts and yielding a more rounded flavor than traditional all-salt formulations. Levels as low as 0.5 percent have been used to reduce salt and remove MSG from soups and snack foods, create mouth-watering crackers, and boost the meat, cheese and vegetable flavors of meal kits, sauces and dips. Although rich in potassium, Ascentra does not contain potassium chloride, eliminating the possibility of metallic flavor notes.

Americans are increasing their risk of cardiovascular disease by consuming nearly twice the recommended daily amount of salt. With 80 percent of salt intake coming from processed and restaurant foods, the National Salt Reduction Initiative was formed to help food manufacturers and restaurants voluntarily reduce salt in their products. The goal is to help Americans reduce their salt intake 20 percent by 2014.

Jeff Miyake, president of DairiConcepts, said the dairy origins of Ascentra address a key consumer concern. “Our sodium-reducing flavor enhancers are made from real dairy ingredients and contain no preservatives. This is an important factor for manufacturers targeting increasingly health-conscious and knowledgeable consumers who scrutinize food labels and are loyal to healthy food brands.”