Reformulation is essential in the food and drink industry. Manufacturers choose to reformulate their products for reasons such as health implications, cost reduction, and adding value.
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment says reformulation is important to reduce salt, sugar and saturated fat in processed foods. The replacement of refined sugar, saturated fatty acids, gelatine, milk and egg is increasingly important in the confectionery world.
Health implications
High blood pressure, obesity (especially in children), and conditions including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are prevalent in Europe. Reformulation is necessary to help maintain healthy lifestyles. Statistics from the NHS show that 29% of adults and 20% of children in England have been classified as obese – a 26% increase since 2016 (source).
Adding value
While some manufacturers want to remove specific ingredients, others choose to add ingredients for nutritional benefits. ‘Added protein’ labelling is becoming increasingly prominent in everyday products, from yogurts to sports nutrition drinks. However, protein often has a bitter taste which can affect the flavour of the finished product. Manufacturers may find they have to adjust the other ingredients to achieve the best flavour.
Issues in manufacturing
Sometimes manufacturers find that a product on the market isn’t performing the way they hoped. This could be for any number of reasons and adjusting the recipe could be an effective way of improving the product. For example, a chewing gum may have a great flavour that is popular with consumers, but doesn’t last as long as they expect. In this case, our encapsulated sweeteners can help.
How can TasteTech help?
These are just a few reasons why reformulation might be necessary. TasteTech’s specialist applications team and in house flavourists can work as an extension of your R&D department to help you get the best results from any reformulation. If you have an upcoming reformulation project, get in touch to find out how we can help.
