Ingredion expands Fibertex citrus fiber ingredient line

The ingredients promise texturizing properties and clean-label benefits.

Ingredion, a provider of specialty ingredient solutions and innovator of clean-label ingredients for the food and beverage industry, today announced the EMEA launch of Fibertex CF 500 and Fibertex CF 100, multi-benefit citrus fibers that reportedly provide enhanced texturizing properties and a clean label for consumer products. These products will be available in APAC in August, by the end of the year in the U.S. and Canada, with LATAM to follow.

“As consumers continue to demand new products with naturally sourced, authentic ingredients, better nutrition, and appealing packaging claims, we recognized the need for cost-effective, highly accepted ingredient options that can do more in terms of functionality and consumer preference,” says Deepa Sethi, global senior manager and innovation business lead, texture solutions, Ingredion.

According to the supplier, the minimally processed, upcycled citrus fibers represent Ingredion’s continued commitment to clean-label product innovation and provide superior viscosifying power, gelling, and improved emulsion and texture stability over shelf-life. Fibertex CF 500 and Fibertex CF 100 are said to be cost-effective, consumer-preferred clean label options. The ingredients also are designed to support popular on-pack claims, including “derived from natural sources,” non-GMO, “fruit-based,” “source of/high in dietary fiber” and others, all of which have been indicators of clean label.

“These new citrus fibers are an ideal solution for brands to utilize naturally sourced, consumer-preferred ingredients that support simple labels, desired packaging claims, and sustainability goals without compromising the eating experience or their margins,” Sethi continues.

While citrus fibers have traditionally had a limited range of applications, Fibertex CF 500 and Fibertex CF 100 multi-benefit citrus fibers can (according to the company) fully or partially replace more expensive and volatile ingredients like egg, oil, and tomato solids to mitigate cost and supply challenges without compromising texture, stability and eating experience in a range of applications, including savory, dairy, alternative dairy, confectionery, bakery, meat, and alternative meat.

“Vegan products usually contain a series of additives to mimic ingredients such as eggs, resulting in a long and complex ingredient list. The power of our Fibertex citrus fibers comes from their natural dietary fiber composition and inherent functionality to emulsify and bind water, which in turn provides thickness and texture stability, without the need to use egg,” says Julika Baseda, global R&D program manager, Ingredion.

Citrus fibers continue to grow in popularity as an ingredient option among consumers, with 85% claiming they accept and like them on their label, according to Ingredion’s 2023 ATLAS proprietary consumer research. The same study indicates that what’s on the label is also growing in importance, with 79% of global consumers stating they want to recognize a product’s ingredients, and 50% claiming they are checking food ingredients more than last year.

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Jenni Spinner is the chief editor of Snack Food and Wholesale Bakery with more than 25 years of experience in business-to-business communications. She has written extensively about food production, safety and packaging; pharmaceutical drug development; concrete and masonry construction; and more. She holds a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Illinois. Jenni can be reached at spinnerj@bnpmedia.com.