BENEO, one of the leading manufacturers of functional ingredients, has announced a 50% production capacity increase at its facility in Wijgmaal, Belgium. Officials say a two-stage, $56 million expansion responds to rising customer demand for its rice starches and will lead to increased capacity by March 2022. 

ABITEC Corporation, an ABF Ingredients company, announced that it has acquired Larodan AB, a manufacturer and international marketer of state of the art, high-purity research grade lipids. This strategic acquisition will expand ABITEC’s functional lipid product offerings and scientific capabilities to better serve the pharmaceutical, nutritional and industrial market sectors.

Prepared Foods surveys cutting edge and sophisticated ingredients for use in food and beverage product development.

Vegetable oils still lead the field over animal-based fats when it comes to new food oil developments. Perceived as healthier in that they contain more unsaturated fatty acids, they have faced challenges when it comes to cooking or baking, as they are not normally robust at the high temperatures needed in heat processing. 

The "clean label" trend is increasing the reliance on natural gums and fibers for stability, functional properties, quality, and safety.

Comet Bio announced successful completion of its randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial evaluating the gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability and prebiotic effects of its Arabinoxylan Plant Fiber Extract, Arrabina™. Results reveal that consumers can take up to 12g per day of Arrabina^TM with no negative gut or bowel reaction. The study also found that Arrabina™ promotes the growth of bifidobacteria, confirming its prebiotic function.

US consumers recognize that not all carbohydrates are alike. In a recent survey conducted on behalf of BENEO, it was shown that consumers differ in their perspectives between various kinds of carbohydrates and are aware of alternative sugars. In fact, half of US consumers believe carbohydrates that are more slowly released are better for health.

BENEO’S new galenIQ™ 900 provides a broad range of benefits, such as low hygroscopicity, which promotes long shelf-life stability; as well as prolonged oral dissolution due to its sustained solubility. Furthermore, the sweet-tasting excipient remains inert in the presence of other components such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and flavorings. 

Confectionery players now have a solution at hand to achieve unprecedented levels of sugar reduction without the worry of compromising on product taste.

International Flavors & Fragrances and DuPont, building on the previously announced merger between IFF and DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences (N&B) business, shared the new guiding purpose and vision, operating model and Executive Committee for the intended combined company. The companies continue to expect that the transaction will close in the first quarter of 2021.