10.12.2021

Next-level nutrition
The growing need for clean label products is a broad demand but a real one.

According to Nielsen, clean label products have been the biggest growth drivers of

the packaged food and beverage industry in the past five years.

Fruit powders can help slim down ingredient labels and

increase wellness claims as they are natural and retain many of their built-in health

advantages.
“Fruit powders have been used in baked goods for quite some time,” said Brigham

Sikora, research, development and applications director, Bakery, Kerry. “The

innovation we are seeing currently and some of the uses we are trying to explore are

using our vegetable and fruit powders to add claims of servings of fruits or

vegetables in the final product. In some cases, we are also able to label just the

fruit or vegetable in the ingredient declaration with no other additives.”
Kerry’s portfolio of powders includes a range of fruits, vegetables and

specialty varieties such as honey, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar and have been

applied to cookies, muffins and donuts as an added health component.
“Traditionally, fruit powders have been used in bakery items to add flavor and

in some cases color,” Mr. Lutomski said. “But recent trends look for more than just

taste, color and ease-of-use; these trends are looking for ingredients with inherent

functional benefits and clean labels.”
The advantages of produce powders can be seen in scientific studies as well as

countless consumer trends. For example, a 2016 study performed at the University of

Cincinnati Academic Health Center involving adults who had mild cognitive impairment

— a risk condition for Alzheimer’s disease — revealed that participants given the

powdered equivalent of a cup of blueberries vs. a placebo powder had improved

cognitive performance and brain function compared with those who took the placebo.

The blueberry group also demonstrated improved memory and improved access to words

and concepts. As these studies reveal health benefits, powders instead of other

fillers could be used to leverage these research-based claims and target consumers

searching for specific benefits.
Welch’s Concord Fruit Powder is packed with a wide variety of polyphenols. The

polyphenols found in concord grapes have been shown to help support a healthy heart

and early research indicates they also provide enhanced cognitive function. The

fruit and vegetable powder

format has a denser concentration of the polyphenols allowing it to have a

real effect on herbal extract

products.
“The baker will need to determine what claims they are comfortable making, but

Welch’s will gladly share its research to help our customer make that decision,”

Mr. Lutomski said.
Another factor to consider is the growing desire among millennials for snacks

loaded with vital minerals, nutrients and vitamins. “Snacking Motivations and

Attitudes US 2015,” a recent report by Mintel, revealed they are more likely than

older generations to buy snacks with added nutritional benefits such as high fiber,

energizing claims or protein content.
Kate Leahy, spokesperson for Sunsweet Ingredients, noted that Sunsweet’s new

Dried Plum Powder’s most common use so far has been in bars with a health

positioning. The

juice powder, composed of 99% dried prune plums, imparts the digestive benefits

found in prunes and contains high levels of powerful antioxidants. She added that the

powder as nutritional supplement

may be used in place of flaxseed, rice bran or citrus fiber for boosting fiber

content. It also may replace 50% of inulin or maltodextrin allowing for reductions in

sugar and salt.
FutureCeuticals offers manufacturers the ability to deliver a clean label with

substantiated U.S.D.A. serving claims through its line of TruServ Organic Whole Food

Powders with vitamin

that offer fruit and vegetable serving claims based on U.S.D.A. My Plate. Each claim

has been verified by FutureCeuticals’ exclusive method of validation that connects

its extensive production data and the U.S.D.A. Nutritional database.
“The goal is to deliver clean, whole food ingredients while offering customers

the convenience of real food as well as having the confidence that it can be

substantiated on the label,” said Andrew Wheeler, marketing director,

FutureCeuticals.

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