Givaudan unveils natural red colorings for meat substitutes

04 Mar 2020 --- Givaudan is increasing the appeal of meat substitutes and adding tangible wellness benefits to food products through plant-based concepts that cater to current consumer demands. From shopping carts and supplements to sports drinks and restaurant menus, consumers are looking for plant-based products that reflect their healthy lifestyles. In light of this, Givaudan is launching a new line of natural red colors designed specifically for meat substitutes: Vegebrite Veggie Reds.

Taste, texture, color, mouthfeel, flavor and nutritional profile are just a handful of the many parameters involved in creating a truly tasty plant-based, consumer-friendly center-of-the-plate product. By combining its product technology and application expertise in this area with Naturex’s natural ingredients, Givaudan can offer integrated solutions for meat substitutes that are entirely plant-based.

This new line is marketed as able to deliver a better consumer preparation experience, introducing meat-like red colour to raw plant-based patties that then turns brown when cooked. 

In addition to the authentic appearance, Vegebrite Veggie Reds offer a “real meat” flavor experience, enabled by the careful application of Givaudan’s natural beef, umami and soy masking flavors.

Wellness and relaxation with botanicals 
With its newly approved Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status, Naturex has broadened the market for turmeric-based foods and beverages. Its highly bioavailable and versatile turmeric extract, Turmipure Gold, can be used for the company’s two new applications: a ginger yogurt and a chai latte. Both applications will contain a single, effective 300 mg dose of the extract, which delivers the same amount of curcuminoids to the blood as 1,922 mg of standard turmeric (containing 95 percent curcuminoids), further demonstrating its high applicability in a variety of concepts. 

In addition, Naturex is introducing a new range of brewed herbal tea concentrates for mood and relaxation. These products will be highlighted in a prickly pear and hibiscus relaxing mocktail, naturally flavored by Givaudan. 

“We are able to offer complete plant-based solutions from the ground up. The consumer experience starts with visual appeal from natural colors. A selection of natural ingredients then works together to provide the right taste, texture and mouthfeel, while our natural preservation solutions maintain product stability throughout shelf life,” says Santiago Vega, Director of Marketing, Nutrition & Health, North America. 

“Furthemore, our botanical extracts can add a wellness appeal to functional food and beverage brands looking to attract health-minded consumers,” he concludes.

Edited by Elizabeth Green