TIC Gums Introduces Guar Manufacturing Process Which Alleviates FSMA Compliance Concerns

• Foreign Supplier Verification Program
GuarNT USA is manufactured and warehoused in an SQF Level 3 Facility in Belcamp, Maryland. Due to the domestic nature of both the manufacturing and warehousing location, GuarNT USA avoids Foreign Supplier Verification Program requirements.

• Preventive Controls
TIC Gums has implemented a proprietary Validated Microbiological Kill Step as a preventive control which monitors and prevents identified hazards.

 

GuarNT USA is a highly versatile hydrocolloid that builds viscosity and controls water migration in a wide range of finished goods including ice cream, instant beverages, sauces, baked goods, fruit preparations and syrups. Because guar is considered a seed gum, derived from the seed of the guar plant, GuarNT USA abides by regularly used clean label parameters. TIC Gums currently has GuarNT USA 8/22 and GuarNT USA Flavor Free 5000 in inventory. 

 

For applications looking to avoid the common “beany” or “grassy” off-notes in both flavor and odor, TIC Gums now offers GuarNT USA Flavor Free 5000. The Gum Gurus at TIC Gums have identified these “off notes” are predominantly caused by the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) hexanal & hexanoic acid, among others. TIC Gums ensures a significant reduction of volatile compounds that typically in GuarNT USA Flavor Free 5000 compared to standard guar gum.

 

Kara Selgrade, Senior Market Development Manager, recently spoke with FoodIngredientsFirst: “GuarNT USA is an American produced guar gum that can be used in a variety of food applications to help provide viscosity and control water migration.  GuarNT USA available from TIC Gums is manufactured in Belcamp, MD USA and gives customers an easily accessible location to audit.  In addition to its functionality, food developers use this highly versatile ingredient because it fits clean label and non-GMO criteria by being minimally processed, as it comes from the seed of the guar plant.”
 
“Consumers are ultimately driving the demand for clearer labels,” explains Selgrade. “Clean labeling continues to be a big trend in the food industry and the new normal for product development.”

 

“Although there is a continued focus on clean label initiatives in the food industry, there is still a call for manufacturers to produce great tasting products with consistent shelf stability. GuarNT USA Flavor Free 5000 allows developers to keep a simpler label declaration, while allowing their flavor system to shine through,” says TIC Gums Food Scientist, Lauren Schleicher.

 

“Another driver for transparency is the new FSMA regulations,” Selgrade continues, “The new requirements put full responsibility on food manufacturers and producers to be fully knowledgeable about their own safety controls, as well as their suppliers, and provide the records to prove it.  Two key requirements for FSMA include the establishment of Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) and Preventive Controls for Human Food.” 

 

“With these new regulations, it is imperative that food ingredient suppliers provide thorough documentation to support their manufacturing & supply chain procedures,” Selgrade adds.

 

According to Selgrade the call for efficiencies in supply chain and production are answered with GuarNT USA.  “Firstly, we brought the production of guar gum in house to our Belcamp, MD facility,” she notes. 

 

“This allows US customers easy access to our manufacturing facility for audits with no foreign supplier involved.  Additionally, TIC Gums conducts appropriate verification activities as required by FSMA to make sure our supply chain is secure and robust. Overall, customers can have peace of mind when sourcing GuarNT USA because TIC Gums has taken full responsibility as supplier.”

 

“Secondly, our process for manufacturing GuarNT USA includes a validated microbiological kill step that ensures preventive control is in place early in the supply chain. A validated kill step means that TIC Gums validates with scientific evidence from a 3rd-party lab that the applied preventive control is capable of effectively controlling and preventing an identified hazard for GuarNT USA. Customers can be assured that ingredient meets FSMA requirements and ensures product safety.”

 

Earlier this year, Ingredion announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of TIC Gums. “Consistent with our strategic blueprint, this acquisition expands our higher-value specialty portfolio. It also enhances our texture capabilities and formulation expertise. Ingredion is now a comprehensive texture-solutions provider with even more solutions for natural, organic and clean-label demands,” said Ilene Gordon, Ingredion chairman and CEO.

 

Ingredion funded the $400 million cash transaction with available cash and short-term credit.