IFF introduces Yo-Mix Prime yogurt cultures in frozen and freeze-dried formats

11 Jan 2022 --- International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) has globally rolled out four new cultures under its Yo-Mix Prime series for yogurt manufacturers. The new cultures join the previously released Yo-Mix Prime 800 and 900 in helping dairy manufacturers to solve a range of major production challenges.

Building up the Yo-Mix Prime portfolio
Yo-Mix Prime cultures help lower formulation costs by reducing the amount of skimmed milk powder needed to boost yogurt texture. This allows for less sugar to be added while keeping the same sweetness perception.

The cultures also include full pH control, which allows for more process flexibility due to full control of the acidity before cooling and packaging. This provides options for higher production output and less yogurt waste.

Consumers worldwide are increasingly aware that products containing probiotics and live cultures have numerous health benefits.“After the successful launch of Yo-Mix Prime 800 and 900, we knew we wanted to deliver even more flexibility for manufacturers to offer a wide variety of texture experiences to consumers,” remarks Charlotte Debare, global product line manager for Yo-Mix. 

IFF developed the first Yo-Mix Prime series to offer full acidity control, delivering products with premium texture, stable pH and consistent quality through shelflife. They come as part of the company’s texture modulation toolbox.

“These new cultures deliver the same benefits as the original series, but the new texture modulation toolbox will offer producers a flexible and easy way to experiment with different textures based on what their customers prefer,” adds Debare.

Functional frozen and freeze-dried cultures
The new Yo-Mix Prime 801 and 802 cultures comes in a freeze-dried format, while the Yo-Mix Prime 830 and 840 cultures come in a frozen format. They are marketed as helping bring out the “ultimate mild taste experience” in dairy.

The new Yo-Mix Prime solutions are further touted as integral to products’ health and affordability credentials due to the cultures’ ability to enhance the sweetness perception, allowing manufacturers to formulate yogurts with less added sugar.

The sweetness-enhancing property of cultures has also been explored by supplier Chr. Hansen, which launched its own next-generation culture Sweety last year. Harnessing the power of fermentation, the solution enables producers to maintain a desirable level of sweetness while reducing added sugar by up to 1 g for every 100 g of yogurt. 

Discovery pipeline for new cultures
Consumers around the world are increasingly aware that products containing probiotics and live cultures have numerous health benefits, particularly gut health and digestibility.

IFF, which merged with Du-Pont Nutrition & Biosciences in February 2021, debuted YO-MIX ViV last June. The “extremely robust” lactic acid bacteria culture is designed for ambient yogurt and other fermented drinks products. The launch initially targeted the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on China.

YO-MIX ViV is marketed as a unique culture that allows producers to offer ambient yogurt and other fermented beverages with highly stable live cultures throughout shelflife for the first time.

By Benjamin Ferrer