Functional starches meet clean-label demand

A new range of functional native starches, aimed at meeting growing demand for clean-label products, has been introduced by Cargill.

Reflecting a growing move away from modified starches, SimPure was a range of tailor-made, functional native starches that delivered the simple ingredient label consumers want, Cargill claimed.

The starches offer food and beverage manufacturers greater process tolerance, shelf-life and storage stability, it added.

For years, modified starches served as the workhorses of the texturising world, solving a host of food processing challenges.

Changing consumer preferences

However, as part of changing consumer preferences, many customers were looking to remove modified starch from their product labels, said Simon Waters, global food starch leader at Cargill.

“SimPure’s functional native starches, coupled with our integrated formulation and technical expertise, will allow food manufacturers to deliver on consumer demands for label-friendly products with great taste and texture,” he added.

The first product to market, SimPure 99560, was aimed at convenience applications such as frozen foods.

Various botanical sources

A custom starch blend of various botanical sources, Cargill said SimPure 99560 could replace modified starches in frozen ready meals, without compromising taste, texture or appearance.

SimPure 99560 was also claimed to provide optimal freeze-heat stability in mild processing conditions.

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