The way to wellbeing

through nature

Diana Food supplies clean-label and high value-added solutions by improving sensorial and functional benefits in wet and dry applications. The combination of innovative tech and multi-stream sourcing results in a comprehensive range of natural products, writes Maryke Foulds.

Consumers want recognisable ingredients, and the food industry is continually working on tasty and healthy ingredients that offer a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colours to ensure a natural taste, visual appeal and pleasant texture in end products. A key trend is redefining food and beverage processing so that it reflects natural and free-from claims, which will drive innovation in new product development.

Back to basics is a key driver in the food market. Consumers are placing importance on home-made-style products that are minimally processed and closer to traditional recipes. Authentic taste is also relevant to ethnic food and this is one trend that is expected to grow in importance over the next few years.

FOOD PRESERVATION

Clean-label food preservation remains a challenge and the ability to preserve and extend shelf life scores highly with consumers. The use of lemon as a natural organic acid is one solution. This citrus fruit is a common ingredient in cooking and used not only for taste, but also for its significant acidifying properties – thanks to the organic acid naturally present in the fruit. Diana Food has learnt over the years to tame this rich, raw ingredient by developing solutions using its natural acids: acid and acetate at different titrations. Its main role is contributing to the preservation of a specific product.

PROCESSED MEAT & SEAFOOD

Nobody survives in the food sector if their product is found wanting. After some recent safety and quality scandals, consumers want to be reassured and be able to trust what they eat. Transparency, full traceability and sustainability are vital.

There is specific interest in ethnicinspired and spicy flavours. Globally, a significant number of consumers consider interesting flavours and unusual ingredients an important factor when purchasing meat, poultry and fish.

Besides being natural and having a great taste, consumers are also demanding healthy food. Products must appeal to all of their senses. They want to stay well and one way of ensuring this in a world of widening waistbands and growing obesity is to eat real food. In this context, high protein content and low/no/ reduced fat and sodium claims are wellreceived. The following ingredients can assist in this goal: • Vegetable solutions for meat curing:

Replace synthetic nitrites with vegetables naturally rich in nitrites (to be fermented with a starter culture). • Antioxidant: Replace artificial ascorbic acid with acerola range (up to 17% to 34% of natural vitamin C content guaranteed). • Natural organic acids: Natural acidity regulations and mould inhibition using dedicated lemon and vinegar solutions. • Taste: Adding different and unique culinary profiles to your processed meat applications with a wide range of taste nuances. Intense and authentic taste from real vegetables and fruit, meat and seafood, wine and vinegars for

FACT:

A team of agronomists work globally in close partnership with seed producers and local farmers to develop and grow selected vegetable varieties. They identify the best weather and terroir conditions to ensure the right characteristics and specifications according to customer requirements. Procurement and regulatory teams work in close collaboration with selected slaughterhouses and meat suppliers. These long-term collaborations ensure full traceability.

use in minced meat, brines, marinades and sauces.

A unique range of crunchies bring a nice visual appeal to products by enhancing the natural identity of a vegetable, for example for more gourmet recipes. The ingredient Ntaste® can compensate for the loss of taste in reduced salt recipes with vegetable extract labelling.

You can now preserve freshness and add a bright, appealing colour to your products using vegetable-based solutions adapted to meat processing. Different labelling is available, such as food colouring, and natural colours.

BETTER & FASTER SNACKS

The snacking culture is fashionable compared with traditional meal events such as lunch and dinner. Snacking consumers choose a snack based on health, wellness and indulgence. The ability to manufacture convenient, nutrient-dense snack products with natural ingredients and flavours that involve minimal processing but still offer great taste, is one way of luring these consumers.

Top choices include bars with highprotein and high-fibre ingredients with limited sugar and processed ingredients. The perfect savoury snack contains wholegrains, veggies and fibre, and minimal sugar and salt. Spicy or ethnic flavours are accepted as long as they are natural and sugar is minimal.

FAST FACT

Diana Food is expert in the following technologies: extraction cooking, concentrations, air, spray and freeze-drying.

Diana Food offers a large choice of solutions to appeal to consumers based on natural ingredients made from allium ingredients such as onion, garlic and shallots; vinegars for acidic notes; meaty roasted flavours; and authentic vegetable, meat and seafood solutions in various shapes and sizes including powders, flakes and crunchies. • Wines & vinegars: Rich authentic taste profiles and an intense aromatic bouquet and acidic taste, clean label, guaranteed consistency which is easy to handle, store and ideal for wet and dry applications. • Chicken fat: Authentic, lightly roasted chicken flavour with very low water content – and a natural oxidant choice. • Sweet corn: A natural source of sugar with a long and stable shelf life and available in flake form can add a smooth texture to many applications.

For more information on the substantial ingredients portfolio from Diana Food, contact local supplier Savannah Fine Chemicals. •

Savannah Fine Chemicals – www.savannah.co.za

INGREDIENT INNOVATION

THAT’S VALUE DRIVEN

BASIC FOOD INGREDIENTS FOR EVERYDAY SOLUTIONS

We supply food manufacturers with quality ingredients and a wide range of additives to help create the taste, texture, performance and appearance you need for your food nutritional products. We represent leading global manufacturers & our specialists can provide you with unrivalled sales support bringing the highest quality products to market:

Bakery ingredients: flavour, texture and fortification - Beverage ingredients for innovation - Confectionary: healthier & tastier alternatives to enhance your brand - Culinary solutions for sauces, dressings and prepared meals that will innovate - Dairy & Desserts: texture & functionality - Flavour & fragrance creation - Health & Sports nutrition.

Johannesburg: +27 11 856 4500 Cape Town: +27 21 551 5353 Durban: +27 31 202 0794 Email: info@savannah.co.za www.savannah.co.za