DuPont launches natural chelator to preserve high-lipid foods

The ingredient, branded Guardian Chelox L, contains a patent-pending blend of natural plant extracts to provide the manufacturers of mayonnaise, dressings, margarine and spreads a flavor-based, value-adding, natural alternative to EDTA, said the company.

The higher fat content in many emulsified foods makes them particularly vulnerable to oxidation, which leads to rancidity.

“To achieve the shelf life manufacturers need, you really need both scavenging and metal chelating activity,”​ explained Brett Thompson, regional manager, Antimicrobials and Antioxidants at DuPont Nutrition & Health.

“The absence of a natural chelator in the market has frustrated manufacturers who want to make a natural product claim for some time. Now, with Guardian Chelox L, they can remove synthetic preservatives and still get the shelf life they need to be competitive.”​

The non-allergenic natural solution is initially available for use in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the company is planning to expand the availability over the coming months.

Cost​

Rob Slemmons, global communications for DuPont Nutrition and Health, told FoodNavigator-USA that, while a straight-up comparison of pricing differences is difficult, the cost of using traditional synthetic preservatives that have been in use for many years tends is generally lower compared with newer natural alternatives.

“We do believe that, for manufacturers who want to respond to the widely acknowledged consumer trendtoward ‘clean label’ or natural products (which often tend to have a higher price point), Guardian Chelox L is very much an economically viable alternative.”​

Slemmons added that all of the components of Guardian Chelox L are GRAS (generally recognized as safe).

The ingredient has low flavor impact, he explained. “However, it can impact some products when applied at higher dosages; threshold levels vary depending on the food matrix.”​

Proof​

The new blend of plant extracts was identified using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to detect the metal chelating and radical scavenging activity of plant extracts.

Once identified and blended, Guardian Chelox L was tested in samples of 40% fat ranch dressing stored at 77°F (25°C), said the company.

The ingredient is reported to have produced similar levels of antioxidant protection to a ranch dressing formulated with EDTA over a 12 month period.