Extensive R&D Leads To Healthier Label Claims for Ancient Grains

29 Mar 2016 --- A few years ago, consumers couldn't spell "quinoa" - much less cook it. Today, quinoa and other ancient grains are becoming kitchen staples. Corbion Caravan research reveals that more than one-third of consumers now indicate strong purchase intent for ancient grains.

With that in mind, and the health and wellness movement driving sales, Corbion Caravan launched an extensive program to remove the preservative spray commonly used in pre-soaked ancient and whole grains, while maintaining quality, taste and shelf life standards. The research and development effort has led to the reformulation of five super soaked grain products that carry the cleaner, "no preservatives" label.

"The preservative-free versions of our pre-soaked grains allow our customers to incorporate the ingredients consumers crave, while also delivering on the expectation of a cleaner label," says Ricardo Moreira, product portfolio manager. "With these new products, Corbion customers can add ancient and whole grains into their recipes - and add more appeal to their baked goods."

Moreira says the five new offerings include such ingredients as oat, oat flakes, sunflower, millet, flaxseed, amaranth, chia, cracked wheat, whole grain barley, whole rye kernels and - of course - quinoa.

Adding these ancient whole grains to product formulations helps to re-energize the bread category and re-engage consumers; Corbion Caravan offers a variety of products solutions that allow bakers to easily incorporate ancient and whole grains into their finished products. 

Corbion Caravan’s hydrated and super soaked grain lines are pre-soaked, making the outer shell of the grain soft and ready for consumption. The shelf life of pre-soaked products is also longer under refrigeration, which reduces waste and saves money.