January 8, 2016–Global Food Forums, Inc. — The following is an excerpt from the “2015 Clean Label Report.”
PROCESSING PANEL, Speaker 1: Jeffrey Andrews, “Technology: The Core Ingredient in Natural Foods”
Meeting the demands of an ever-changing marketplace, which includes Millennial moms among many other groups, is a challenge for food processers. Food processors must do market research to anticipate trends and directions, so they can introduce products in a timely manner. Meeting consumer trends can create demands with which R&D and plant personnel often struggle, since they may be technically infeasible, said Jeffrey Andrews, Sr. Director of Contract Manufacturing, HP Hood, presenting “Technology: The Core Ingredient in Natural Foods” for a panel on processing advances relevant for clean label products.
In meeting the marketing department’s demands, packaging is the most visible—but also one of the most impactful—for delivering clean label products that are commercially viable. [©iStockphoto]
There is a broad range of such technologies. They include filtration technologies; thermal processing technologies, especially high-temperature, short-time or agitating processes that produce minimal changes in flavor and texture; high- pressure processing which may be used for processing high-value products without altering characteristics; in-package technologies for pasteurization or sterilization; and packaging technologies employing new materials and/or modified atmospheres.
In meeting the marketing department’s demands, packaging is the most visible—but also one of the most impactful—for delivering clean label products that are commercially viable. I-beam film skeletons allow film properties to be modified through the insertion of components that expand the capabilities of the package. They allow for better control of moisture-vapor transmission, enhanced vitamin retention and the adoption of a lighter overall package.
Processors can also better manage oxygen in packages through gas flushes, utilization of modified-atmosphere packaging, pulling a vacuum or the addition of oxygen scavengers. If a decision is made to use any of the oxygen technologies, such as vacuum or modified atmospheres, processors also need to adopt packaging that best showcases the technologies.
Millennial moms are demanding consumers with a strong interest in clean label products. Oddly, in order to meet their demand for simple, fresh food, the food processors must turn to the technologist to make it happen.
Jeffrey Andrews, Sr. Director, Contracting Manufacturing, HP Hood
This presentation was given at the 2015 Clean Label Conference. To download presentations from this event, go to https://cleanlabel.globalfoodforums.com/category/clean-label-rd-academy/
See past and future Clean Label Conference Events at https://cleanlabel.globalfoodforums.com/clean-label-events/
