Ingredient supplier Ingredion has expanded its offerings with new dietary fruit fibers – branded Fibertex CF 502 and Fibertex CF 102 in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, with availability in other regions expected later this year. 

The clean label texturizing ingredients are made from unutilised citrus processing side-streams and can improve nutritional profiles and label appeal in a wide range of applications.

“By nature, they deliver a unique texture, enable the replacement of costly ingredients and can help extend and stabilize texture over shelf-life to reduce environmental impact, by reducing food waste,” details Ingredion.

Botanical replacement for traditional stabilizers
FIbertex CF citrus fibers contain >90% dietary fiber and their inherent functionality can replac ingredients such as fats, hydrocolloids and modified starches, helping to reduce fat, sugar and calories in a range of applications.

Citrus fibers come from peels of citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes and oranges.According to Ingredion’s proprietary consumer insights research, “ATLAS”, more consumers want to buy products containing ingredients they recognize and accept, with short labels, health benefits and claims that convey naturality and freshness.

Fibertex CF citrus fibers enable “source of fiber” or “high in fiber” claims, which present consumer appeal and on-shelf differentiation – an important feature considering that 71% of EMEA consumers are willing to pay a higher price for “natural” clean label products.

Citrus fibers come from peels of citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes and oranges. They are made from the valorisation of waste streams from the pectin industry, applying simple processing techniques.

“Fibertex CF 502 and 102 dietary fibers represent our next wave in clean label ingredients and complement Ingredion’s Novation and Homecraft functional native starch and flour range,” says Constantin Drapatz, EMEA senior marketing manager for Clean & Simple ingredients at Ingredion.

“The ability to improve nutritional profiles, improve our customer´s margins, support sustainability and provide manufacturers with ingredients that deliver desired sensory experiences and on-shelf differentiation support formulation needs of today and tomorrow.”

Citrus at the forefront of formulation
Citrus continues to play a starring role in ingredient formulation, as in Givaudan and Manus Bio recently launched flavoring solution BioNootkatone.

In similar industry developments, Givaudan and US-based company Fiberstar recently entered a deal allowing Givaudan to commercialize and use Fiberstar’s natural, plant-based texturizing ingredient Citri-Fi, upcycled from the citrus fiber. 

Meanwhile, Univar Solutions previously touted citrus fiber as “one of the latest clean label alternatives to traditional emulsifiers.”