Taura presents functional fruit, “trendy top notes” and new high-fiber solutions at Fi Europe 2019

10 Dec 2019 --- Taura Natural Ingredients used Fi Europe 2019 as a platform to launch a new range of fruit solutions that deliver the benefits of fiber without compromising on taste or texture. Jus Fruit Fibre+ was part of a range of fruit and vegetable solutions showcased last week in Paris where the company told FoodIngredientsFirst about its innovation pipeline and the rise of savory vegetable blends. It also highlighted its all-new on-trend functional fiber ingredient amid forecasts that increasing fiber intake will be big throughout 2020.

“A lot of trends are moving further toward health and balanced nutrition and we are developing products that are meeting that demand. One of them is our Fiber+ range, which is a product with added fiber providing one-third of your recommended daily intake with less than 100 calories while maintaining a high-quality taste. This is something we expect a lot from,” Peter Forceville, Head of Sales & Marketing at Taura EMEA, tells FoodIngredientsFirst from the show floor.

The launch of Jus Fruit Fibre+ comes as increasing fiber intake, in general, is forecast as a major trend for 2020. There is an increased awareness of the importance of gut health for both physical and mental wellbeing. However, obtaining sufficient amounts of fiber from dietary sources can be tough – adults are recommended to eat at least 25 g a day, but the average portion of fruit provides just 1.3 g.

This is driving demand for convenient products that can boost fiber intake and fits in with the growing snacking category, as JusFruit Fibre+ is available as a standalone snack, a paste, or for inclusion in healthy snacks. JusFruit Fibre+ allows manufacturers to create low-calorie products with more than 20 g of fiber per 100 g, explains Forceville. 

Consumers are increasingly aware of fiber’s multiple health benefits, but there is a big gap between the recommended intake and actual intake. Fiber claims are tipped to be an important claim, particularly in the healthy snacking sector.

Made using Taura’s URC process, the solutions in the range contain up to 15 percent less sugar than regular fruit inclusions and is vegan, preservative-free and allergen-free. Benefits for manufacturers include moisture migration control, flexible formulations and easy line extensions.

Taura was presenting “Bliss Balls”, an example of a nutritional snack, containing the Fibre+ solution as well as chia seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pineapple to increase fiber content and good texture. “You can take any fruit and replicate this,” notes Forceville. 

Also featured strongly among spotlighted trends is the importance that texture has in food and beverages, with this theme being driven by social media. According to Innova Market Insights, 70 percent of consumers claimed that “texture gives food and beverages a more interesting experience” as they are looking for more fun and different products.Bliss Balls.

Axis of innovation
Taura was also showcasing a range of other solutions with taste, texture and sugar reduction in mind. 

“It’s always about the taste but this year we’re bringing in some new products, new taste developments that are really on-trend,” Forceville continues. “For instance, this can be seen in products with floral notes and herbal notes. We’ve got raspberry with rose and a coffee pumpkin with spices, which is a Starbucks-type of product so we are going beyond the fruit.”

“We also have vegetarian blends that are getting more and more savory, like bacon habanero. There are also our mint pieces with a base of pear, like a very strong After Eight Mint. We also have masala, so there’s a lot of exciting things that are innovative and based on our blends of fruit and vegetables but with a trendy top note,” he explains.

Functional fruits
The company was also showcasing its “functional fruits,” which Forceville describes as consumer healthcare products. “We’ve got fruit pieces with encapsulated iron for women, especially during pregnancy where there can be a risk of iron deficiency. They can also be for small children,” Forceville notes. 

“Iron supplements have been around for many years but we have tapped into the trend to move away from the pill because of pill fatigue. Pills remind consumers of being ill, so we make supplements more appealing in a nice food shape format with added iron but without its taste.”

Functional foods are not just about food supplements but are also about adding a specific function to Taura’s product, for instance, sugar reduction, Forceville continues. 

“We have “Sweet Spots” sugar-reduced biscuits, which allow the manufacturer to reduce the sugar by up to 30 percent by adding our Taura fruit pieces. They are are so sweet in taste but contain much less sugar.”

“Our no-added-sugar apple paste is based solely on apple puree, which allows biscuit or bakery manufacturers to remove the sugar and replace with apple paste. We are no longer strictly a supplier of products but we are helping customers bring a solution to the market,” he says.

Why 30 percent?
“There is some sound science behind the 30 percent. Because sugar is used not only for the sweetness but also for bulking, it could be replaced with tapioca starch for example. However, then the biscuits taste less sweet. This is where we add our fruit pieces. By biting on sweet spots of Taura jammy fruit pieces,the taste receptors send a message to the brain that you’re tasting something very sweet. This ultimately gives a sweeter perception.”

Taura has also carried out trials with a consumer panel which found that not only do consumers perceive this product as being much sweeter, but also a lot of them preferred the Sweet Spot biscuits. 

By Gaynor Selby