The patent-pending starches - which can be labeled as ‘starch’ or ‘corn starch’ in the US, Canada, China, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America (and 'starch' or 'maize starch' in Europe) - have a clean taste and a white color.
They are also tolerant to shear, heat and acid, even under extreme conditions (ultra-high temperatures (UHT) and homogenization), and work in a broad range of applications including yogurt, soups, sauces, dressings and prepared meals.
CLARIA Essential is for products undergoing milder processing, such as soups; CLARIA Plus is for products that might, say, go through a retort process, such as a low pH sauce; and CLARIA Elite is for products undergoing harsher processing such as UHT or high pressure homogenization, such as some yogurts.
Other functional clean-label starches currently on the market tend to have limited process tolerance
Asked what was distinctive about the range compared with other functional clean-label starches, Tate & Lyle global marketing director for texturants and convenience foods Esther van Onselen told FoodNavigator-USA: "Other functional clean-label starches currently on the market tend to have limited process tolerance, as well as darker color and off-taste elements that are very different from modified food starches.
"These limitations can impact consumer acceptance in some applications and represent significant challenges that food processors must overcome during formulation."
She added: “Internal colorimetric and sensory testing demonstrated that the CLARIA line has a very neutral flavor profile and color that is comparable to modified starches.
"This facilitates their incorporation in food categories that have historically had limited options with functional clean-label starches.”
Asked if non-GMO versions would be available for US customers, she said: "Yes. CLARIA will be available globally as non-GM."
23.5% of new launches made clean label claims in 2013
In a webinar outlining the benefits of CLARIA, van Onselen cited data from Innova Market Insights revealing that 23.5% of new products launched globally made some kind of clean label claim in 2013 vs 12.9% in 2013.
And in some categories such as yogurt and cooking sauces, the figures were even higher, she said (34% and 32% respectively).
“Consumers believe that clean label products are less processed, more wholesome and better for you.”
Consumers believe clean label products are less processed and more wholesome
Werner Barbosa, platform leader for texturants at Tate & Lyle, added: “The technical and scientific advancement lies in Tate & Lyle’s proprietary processing, which allows the CLARIA starch granules to remain intact throughout different processing conditions.”
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