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Tag: bakery

November 10, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

Improve Your Nutri-Score using Citrus Fiber in Foods

Citri-Fi® functional citrus fiber provides high water holding and emulsification properties. As result, this natural ingredient improves the Nutri-Score by reducing calories, fat, sugar and salt while contributing fiber. In the end, Citri-Fi not only enhances food and beverage quality but also improves the nutrition label which gives consumers healthier choices.

The Nutri-Score is a type of traffic light system which helps consumers in the EU to choose “healthier” foods. For instance, this scoring system classifies foods and beverages into five groups starting with A (green) to E (red). Food ingredients are ranked from 1 to 10 which is then summed up to calculate a letter grade. It is this letter grade that highlights whether the food is healthy or not. For example, ingredients like sugar, saturated fats and sodium worsens the score. On the other hand ingredients like protein and dietary fiber improves the score. From this nutrition label, consumers quickly discern the nutritional value of the product. Ultimately, this system encourages consumers to pick healthier choices and puts more emphasis on their diet.

Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Positively Affects the Nutri-score

Citri-Fi citrus fiber is produced from upcycled bio-material or byproduct of the citrus juicing process. The patented process which is free from chemical modifications opens up the fiber to provide high water holding and emulsification properties. As a result, these functionalities improve food and beverage products quality and Nutri-score. For instance, at small usage levels (0.2% to 1.0%), Citri-Fi improves the score by reducing calories and fats in addition to creating better textures in salt and/or sugar reduced food products. Additionally, Citri-Fi improves the score by increasing the fiber content of the food and beverage.

Food Products and Improved Nutrition Labels

This citrus fiber benefits various food products. For example, in bakery foods, Citri-Fi’s high water holding and emulsification properties helps reduce fat, oil and/or egg while contributing fiber. Other functional benefits include improved structure and perceived freshness over time. In dairy, ice cream, sauces and dressings, this natural citrus fiber reduces fat and improves texture of sugar-reduced products. While in beverages Citri-Fi improves mouthfeel while contributing fiber. And in meats, this natural food ingredient reduces fat and salt while providing emulsification for good oils.

In the end, removing the unhealthy ingredients from food and beverages at times reduces the product quality. Depending on the formulation, these ingredients provide also functional benefits in addition to their organoleptic contributions. Using natural highly functional fibers like Citri-Fi allows product developers to either replace or reduce those negatively perceived ingredients without compromising product integrity. Moreover, Citri-Fi cleans up the food nutrition label and statement since its labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour.

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May 27, 2020
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Clean Label Bakery: Using Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber provides high water holding and natural emulsification properties to clean label bakery. However, not all citrus fiber are created the same. Citri-Fi uses a process free of chemical modifications and sourced from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. As a result, Citri-Fi not only improves bakery foods but also supports a sustainable story.

Citri-Fi citrus fiber provides high water holding and natural emulsification. Though it qualifies as a fiber under the FDA, this natural ingredient offers many more functional benefits to clean label bakery. For instance, this citrus fiber retains moisture which improves the perception of freshness over time. As a result, bakers create high quality conventional or gluten-free bakery foods. Moreover, due to its high water holding capacity, this natural food ingredient also reduces eggs and/or oil in baked goods such as muffins and cakes. At the same time, at low usage levels, these bakery items retain the full-fat and rich mouthfeel. In addition, this natural citrus fiber provides freeze/thaw stability preserving bakery texture and mouthfeel. In the end, Citri-Fi enhances vegan, vegetarian, keto, low calorie, low fat, low sugar and plant-based bakery foods.

Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Clean Label and Sustainable 

However, not all citrus fiber are created the same. Citri-Fi uses a process free from chemical modifications. Also, Fiberstar sources this upcycled product from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. As a result, this tells a more sustainable story. In the end, these two features sets Citri-Fi citrus fiber apart from the alternatives. Due to this, bakers prefer Citri-Fi citrus fiber when formulating clean label bakery. This natural food ingredient also cleans up packaging declarations due to its labeling options which include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour.

To learn more about bakery trends and innovative ingredients, check out the following leading industry articles:

 

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May 19, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

How to Add Citri-Fi® Citrus Fiber to Foods

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber improves texture, labeling, stability and nutrition of various food products. However, to use this natural citrus fiber in foods, it needs to be hydrated correctly to activate the full functionality. As a result, these four easy methods minimize dispersion issues that may arise when adding this natural ingredient. 

Before diving into how to use citrus fiber in foods, let us review why you need to use Citri-Fi in the first place. Citri-Fi citrus fiber uses a process free from chemical modifications. The mechanical process opens up the fiber to provide high water holding and emulsification properties. As a result, when used at low levels (<1%), citrus fiber contributes multiple benefits to a variety of food products such as meats, bakery, beverages, sauces, dairy and frozen foods. Also, this natural ingredient improves hot trending products like dairy and meat alternatives. In the end, Citri-Fi citrus fiber should be your "go-to" natural ingredient to improve stability while cleaning up labels and enhancing nutrition.

Depending on the product, this healthy food ingredient provides various benefits. For instance, this food emulsifier binds water and oil which improves the stability of dairy, beverages, sauces, dressings and dairy alternatives. Additionally, Citri-Fi holds onto water to increase yields and improve juiciness and texture of meats and meat substitution products. Because this natural citrus fiber provides multiple functionalities, it replaces ingredients like starches, gums and other stabilizers to clean up food product labels.

Now that you joined the loyal citrus fiber club, let us talk about how to use it in food products successfully. Although your first urge will be to sprinkle Citri-Fi like pixie dust, proper hydration is key! In the end, properly hydrating Citri-Fi activates the full functionality of this citrus fiber.

How to Use Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber in Foods 

There are four main ways to use this natural hydrocolloid in foods to prevent clumping or "fish eyes".

1. Pre-mixed in Dry Ingredients

One option includes pre-mixing Citri-Fi citrus fiber with dry ingredients such as sugar, salt, flour, etc. depending on the food product. The dry ingredients should be approximately 10 times the weight of Citri-Fi. Moreover, foods that benefit include bakery items, seasoning mixes and processed meats.

2. Dispersed in Oil 

Another way to incorporate this natural food emulsifier is in oil. For instance, Citri-Fi can be mixed into an oil before being added to the food product or liquid. On the other hand, this natural emulsifier when mixed with a certain ratio of oil turns liquids into free-flowing powders As a result, this plated citrus fiber improves the handling and usability of the product. And as a bonus, when added to water or other food products, this plated material provides additional functionalities. For example, plated Citri-Fi provides stability and mouthfeel in beverages.

3. Dispersed into Syrups

Also, Citri-Fi can be added into syrups like sugar or glucose.

4. Prehydrated Directly in Water

Though we recommend adding Citri-Fi to dry ingredients before hydrating in water, you do have the option to prehydrate directly in water. However, in order to use this method, you need to add Citri-Fi in 3% or less solutions. In addition, this natural food ingredient needs to be added using strong agitation to avoid clumping and "fish eyes". Some recommended agitation options include blender, rotor stator homogenizer, mechanical mixer or a magnetic stirrer.

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May 12, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

5 Way to Create Healthy Food using Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber creates high quality healthy food. For instance, this natural citrus fiber provides high water holding and emulsification properties. As a result, this natural citrus fiber can reduce oil, fat, eggs and add dietary fiber to an array of food products like bakery, beverages, dressings and snacks. 

Creating healthy food today involves subtracting negatively perceived ingredients in addition to adding health promoting elements. For instance, food makers continue to reduce oils and fats in foods. As a result, consumers benefit from lower calories. On the other hand, creating better foods entails removing allergens such as soy, gluten or egg. Regardless, Citri-Fi citrus fiber is an ultimate tool in creating healthier high quality foods. Since this citrus fiber provides high water holding and emulsification properties, it improves stability, texture and nutrition in a variety of food products.

1.  Increase Fiber Contribution in a Variety of Foods

Today, food makers incorporate dietary fiber to make fiber claims. Since not all fibers are created the same, food manufacturers use more than one fiber type like a cocktail. For instance, some foods use functional fibers like Citri-Fi citrus fiber to provide water holding and emulsification properties. At the same time, formulators add other fibers simply to meet the dietary fiber claim requirements. The beauty of Citri-Fi is that its functional attributes benefit a variety of healthy food while also contributing fiber. For example, this citrus fiber improves mouthfeel and clouding in beverages such as ready-to-drink (RTD) and powdered drinks. And Citri-Fi enhances other foods like nutrition bars, snacks and bakery items.

Also, this functional citrus fiber replaces other ingredients like starches, gums and stabilizers. As a result, Citri-Fi cleans up label declarations while improving the nutritional profile. Citri-Fi's labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour.

2.  Reduce Oil or Fat in Bakery Products

Citri-Fi citrus fiber's high water holding capacity allows bakers to reduce oil and/or fats in baked goods. For instance, when Citri-Fi is used between 0.25% to 1.00% in muffins, cookies or cakes, this natural ingredient retains moisture. As a result, bakery item's freshness factor remains for a longer period time. And this citrus fiber creates a texture that simulates a full-fat mouthfeel which consumers expect. Citri-Fi replaces up to 50% of oil or fat in bakery products without comprising the quality.

3. Remove Egg Products in Dressings and Sauces

Another industry trend is egg-free dressings and sauces which improves the nutritional profile. For instance, dressings like mayonnaise can now be made egg-less without compromising the texture. Citri-Fi citrus fiber's oil and binding power make this happen. Now, these type of products give vegan and vegetarians more options. And due to recent food safety concerns, food services switched to egg-free dressings and sauce food products. Either way, this natural citrus fiber creates a smooth texture that remains stable for long periods of time at low usage levels. 

4.  Minimize Saturated Fats in Meat Alternatives 

Citri-Fi citrus fiber also reduces saturated fats in meat substitution products like meat-free patties. Since many meat alternatives use coconut oil, these products tend to contain high amounts of saturated fats. When Citri-Fi 100 series is used in an emulsion, this natural ingredient allows food makers to use unsaturated oils and at a lower level. At the same time, the meat alternative is juicy and succulent during the cooking process. And to improve the meat-like texture, Fiberstar recently launched Citri-Fi TX. This new citrus fiber provides cold binding which allows food makers to replace binders like gluten. As a result, those formulating without allergens benefit with a clean label binding system.

5.  Improve Gluten-free Food Texture, Nutrition and Quality

Gluten-free continues to be a market need. Initially, first generation foods were loaded with simple carbohydrates with a short shelf-life. However, today, food makers focus on creating higher quality and healthier versions. And manufacturers upgraded to a more wholesome approach to gluten-free food making. Citri-Fi citrus fiber is an ideal solution when creating gluten-free foods. Because this natural citrus fiber holds onto water, gluten-free foods retain moisture longer. As a result, this improves the freshness factor. And because Citri-Fi meets the FDA fiber guidelines, this natural ingredient contributes fiber to the overall nutrition.

 

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March 27, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

Bettering Bakery Ingredients with Clean Label Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber's high water holding and emulsification properties improve a variety bakery products geared toward clean label, vegan, paleo and health and wellness markets. This clean label bakery ingredient's low usage level and natural labeling makes it an essential food ingredient when baking.

Creating clean foods, especially bakery products, have different meanings depending on the consumers. Some believe clean refers to the ingredient declaration. For example, food labeling should list recognizable ingredients and be short in length. On the other hand, others think clean defines health and wellness. As a result, many consumers adhere to specialty diets like paleo or vegan. And then there are consumers who see clean label as "free from". For instance, bakery products that are free from gluten or other allergens appeal to those who seek overall well-being. Regardless of the definition, bakery ingredients, such as citrus fiber, provide companies a way to create clean label bakery applications.

Clean Label Bakery Ingredients

Citri-Fi citrus fiber is a highly functional ingredient that provides high water holding and emulsification properties to bakery products. These bakery ingredients replace chemical emulsifiers while maintaining the structure and texture of baked goods. Also, this natural fiber improves perceived freshness over time because it delays the staling process. Because Citri-Fi label options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour, this bakery ingredient resonates well in the natural markets. Lastly, this citrus fiber's usage levels range from 0.2% to 1.0% which means less is more when creating high quality bakery products. To learn more about usage levels, check out the Bakery Application Guide.

Health and Wellness Baked Goods

Many bakers are converting their recipes to vegan due to the latest plant-based food trend. As a result, Citri-Fi citrus fiber is used in conjunction with other natural ingredients to replace animal fats or eggs. Its emulsification properties makes this an essential baking ingredient when creating better-for-you products. Moreover, the same emulsification properties also benefit gluten-free products. These "free-from" items tend to be dry and mealy due to the types of flours used. However, Citri-Fi helps to improve the moisture retention so that products remain fresher longer.

Additional Information About Formulating Clean Bakery

The below links are great resources to learn more about clean label baked goods and how Citri-Fi citrus fiber can help you create high quality bakery products. The Bakery Video Library is also an excellent resource.

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January 6, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

Top 5 Most Read Fiberstar Editorial Posts in 2019

Fiberstar continues to broadcast top line information about Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber and how this functional fiber fits the market need. As a result, the top 5 topics below highlight the key interests. However, though these may be the top 5, our article archives capture topics ranging from food applications to ingredient functionality.  Please check out the other archived articles about natural citrus fiber HERE: 

1.  Citri-Fi 100 Natural Citrus Fiber Clean Label Gelling Pectin Replacement

This natural citrus fiber contains native pectin content which can be activated in low pH and high Brix conditions. As a result, using Citri-Fi in fruit prep bakery fillings improves the texture and quality. Also, it may prevent blow-out in enrobed bakery items.

2.  BLOG: The Magic of Turning Liquid Oils into Natural Flowable Powders

Liquid oils can be difficult to handle due to their consistency and shelf-life. Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber contains high surface area which binds high amounts of oil and water. As a result, this natural ingredient binds oil to create a flowable powder. Additional benefits include using the plated oil in applications such as beverages or sauces to improve texture and stability.

3. Fiberstar Introduces Natural Clean Label Citri-Fi to Replace Phosphate in Meat and Poultry

Due to the natural and clean label movements, phosphate fell out of favor in several food products. For instance, in meats, natural ingredients like Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber replaces phosphate in conjunction with either rice starch and/or carrageenan to produce high yields and reduce purge.

4. Fiberstar Unlocks the Science Behind Clean Label Emulsification in Food

One of the key attributes that sets Citri-Fi citrus fiber apart from other citrus fibers is the natural emulsification properties. Due to Citri-Fi's composition of soluble and insoluble fiber, this functional ingredient binds oil and water and locks it in. In 2019, clean emulsification hit the charts as one of the key benefits manufacturers sought out to improve their label declarations.

5.  BLOG: Breaking the Myths about Fibers

Not all fibers are created the same. This also includes citrus fibers. Learn more about how Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber provides higher functionality which improves a variety of food applications in the food and beverage market.

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November 22, 2019
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Nutritional Ingredient for Bakery: Natural Citrus Fiber

Bakery is a staple in every consumer's lives. Because of this, baked goods serve as a perfect vehicle to deliver nutrition. Today, bakers include ingredients like protein and fiber to enhance their bread products. For instance, Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber is an ideal nutritional ingredient for bakery. Not only does this fiber provide some fortification, but also functional benefits. For example, Citri-Fi's high water holding capacity improves bread freshness over time. As result, consumers enjoy their baked goods longer.

Additionally, Citri-Fi is allergen-free and Non-GMO Project certified. Citri-Fi can be labeled as citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which all resonate well in the natural markets. This nutritional ingredient for bakery also has no E-number which benefits the European markets.

To learn more about how to fortify your bakery products with nutritional ingredients, please check out this article - Nutritional Ingredients Help Fortify Snack and Bakery Products (Snackfood & Wholesale Bakery)

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