Are you checking out the ingredient list on the product label?

The labelling of ingredients and additives in food is becoming more and more important. A European study of the European Food Information Council¹ shows that consumers automatically classify clean label products as healthier than those without labeling. This is also reflected in consumers’ buying behavior. People are looking for products with short and clear ingredient lists. Due to these changes in the consumer market, companies in the food industry are now faced with the task of developing innovative and transparent clean label products. At the same time, this means that food technologists and developers are now challenged to find suitable suppliers of E-number-free ingredients and deliver a product quality that meets consumer requirements.

Why has Clean Label attracted the attention of the food industry?

Increasing health awareness among the population is contributing to a noticeable change in nutrition. Many consumers are becoming more aware of their diet and, as a result, are taking a closer look at the ingredients and nutritional values of processed foods. They are looking more and more for foods with short, pure and clear ingredient lists, as these indicate freshness and naturalness. “E-numbers” (food additives approved of the EU) usually have a negative image and are often classified as unhealthy due to a lack of understanding. Even if many additives are harmless to health, complicated descriptions such as “mono- & diglycerides of fatty acids” (E471) or “silicon dioxide” (E551) are frightening.

What exactly does Clean Label require?

Consumers are choosing natural alternatives more and more. So clean label is meanwhile a must have for many consumers. However, the “Clean Label” declaration is not a certified food label, such as “organic” or “gluten-free”. Clean Label only means to advertise food with a reference of not using certain ingredients. In other words, the product is free of additives, such as flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives and colorants.

Reaction of the food industry to the Clean Label trend

Consumers require complete transparency from producers in the composition of their products. In recent years, the food industry has tried to meet the trend of clean labelling with new innovative products and recipe adaptations. Many food manufacturers have therefore taken up the challenge of adapting their entire product value chain to the requirements of the Clean Label declaration.

The high functionality of E-numbers can have a strong positive impact on the quality of the final product. Technologists therefore like to use them as a way to ensure the most continuous product quality as well as optimal production and process flows. Summarized, E-numbers are effective tools to delay or even avoid unwanted product changes such as spoilage, discoloration, hydrogenation, liquification, etc. Due to the wide range of E-numbers, developers and technologists have a huge “toolbox” of stabilizers, emulsifiers, flow agents, colorants, etc., which need to be replaced by natural alternatives in a “free from” product. So they are now faced with the task of finding suitable suppliers for E-number-free ingredients and delivering a product quality that nevertheless meets customer expectations.

Clean Label solutions of MEGGLE Food Ingredients

The product development of the MEGGLE Business Unit Food Ingredients also continuously demonstrates its creativity and works on high-quality clean label solutions that provide our customers a stable process as well as consistent quality and functionality in the final product. Today we provide a wide range of Clean Label products in our market segments Nutrition, Bakery & Sweets, Dairy and Savoury.

Our product overview for the different areas of application gives you a first insight into our Clean Label range. We will be happy to advise you individually on which product meets your requirements best.