Flavors by the Bayou

The newest in a series of natural claim broth powders designed for soup, sauce and beverage applications will be a highlight at the IFT Food Expo. Nikken Foods Company will be demonstrating typical applications of a shelf-stable shitake mushroom concentrate with intense flavor and aroma. Since 1964, the company has been a pioneer in new product development and innovative production techniques including soy sauce powders, anchovy powders, clam broth blends, dried Oriental vegetables, shelf-stable sautéed vegetable pastes and concentrates, and continuous vacuum dried (CVD) natural flavor bases. Nikken Foods Company, IFT booth #5217, 636-532-1019, benchnstl@aol.com, www.nikkenfoods.com

A”maizing” and Gluten-free

Products made from corn tapioca-based starches are of particular importance to one out of every 133 Americans who may have Celiac Disease, reports the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research. Corn gluten does not initiate an autoimmune response in such individuals as does wheat, oat, rye or barley. Corn Products U.S. offers Expandex[tm], a modified tapioca starch, and the main ingredient in many of the Maizing[tm] bakery mix products. Expandex creates a moist and expanded crumb while enhancing the action of leavening agents in gluten-free baking applications. Corn Products U.S., IFT booth #2323, Eric Shinsato, 708-551-2853, eric.shinsato@cornproducts.com, www.cornproducts.com

Whip Up the Color

Whip toppings under the brand of Flav'r Top[r] Plus from Elgin Dairy Foods have excellent stability and superior hold. Flav'r Top Plus readily accepts coloring without drying or cracking, helping you to decorate your desserts with bright, sales-driving colors. Flav'r Top Plus is a non-dairy, ready-to-whip topping formula made with the finest ingredients for superior flavor, quality and freshness. The smooth, creamy texture of Flav'r Top Plus leaves a clean mouthfeel without an oily or waxy aftertaste. Finished desserts made with Flav'r Top Plus can be refrigerated for up to seven days or frozen for up to one year. Elgin Dairy Foods, 800-786-9900, www.elgindairy.com

Unique Combinations of Flavors

Looking for new flavor ideas and concepts? Comax Flavors is among the world's foremost suppliers of flavor technologies and aroma components. The company delivers a unique and agile combination of flavors, service capabilities and technological expertise to help its customers develop healthful, flavorful foods and beverages faster and more easily to meet the needs of health-minded consumers. At the IFT show, Comax will showcase the artistry of Shan Ichiyanagi, with his edible masterpieces, and sample an array of unique applications including a meatless taco and refreshing iced beverages. Comax Flavors, IFT booth #4817, www.comaxflavors.com

Replace the Sugar, Please?

The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations both stress the importance of a low-glycemic diet. New dietary guidelines released this past January by the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture also reinforce the value of carbohydrates like ISOMALT sugar replacers from Palatinit. The ISOMALT family of sugar replacers is exclusively derived from sucrose, but is “sugar-free.” It has a naturally sweet taste but only half the calories of sugar. Since ISOMALT products are low-digestible carbohydrates, they are beneficial to gut health, and their glycemic response is very low. Palatinit, IFT booth #4711, Lorri Danzig, 203-389-6558, www.isomaltusa.net

Digestive Nirvana

Consumers want it all--less fat, sugar, carbs and calories--but now they expect their foods to be all-natural, and free of potentially harmful ingredients or health-compromising formulation processes. Fortunately, ORAFTI can help strike this perfect balance through a range of appealing new products--bringing their own breed of nutritional nirvana to many forward-looking manufacturers. ORAFTI will feature all-natural inulin and oligofructose to promote better digestive health, add fiber to American diets, and enhance calcium absorption for optimal bone health, among many other health benefits in demand by American consumers. Orafti, IFT booth #4335, John Martin, 610-889-9828, jmartin@orafti-us.com, www.orafti.com

Cajun and Caramel

Cost-effective natural color blends featuring caramel color combined with other natural colors for enhanced visual appeal in beverage, confectionery and dairy applications can create vibrant yellows, reds and oranges. At the IFT Food Expo, July 17-20 in New Orleans, D.D. Williamson and colorMaker will demonstrate NOP-compliant caramelized rice syrup for enhanced visual appeal in sauces and dressings, in addition to natural food products such as granola bars, rice cakes, muffins, snacks and cereals. Powdered caramel color sample jars will be given away with a Cajun-style recipe to try at home. D.D. Williamson & Co. Inc., IFT booth #2623, 502-895-2438, info@ddwmson.com, inquire@colormaker.com, www.caramel.com, www.colormaker.com

A Soy that Satisfies

Soy proteins can be used in a wide variety of meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian analog applications. Solbar Industries Ltd., a leading soy protein manufacturer, expanded its family of functional soy protein concentrates. Solcon S-110 and S-200 were introduced in 2003-2004. In 2004, Solbar established a joint venture called NutriCognia, which develops and markets an innovative proprietary testing platform for rapid glycoanalysis of food and beverage applications. More recent product developments include S-220, S-117, S-118, S-120 and S-300 functional concentrates and Solpro 900, isolated soy proteins. Products are certified non-GMO IP soybeans by CERT ID. Manufacturing sites are certified ISO 9001:2000, HAACP/GMP, kosher and halal. Solbar Plant Extracts Ltd., IFT booth #3447, Gary Brenner, +972 8 86232111, solbar@solbar.com, www.solbar.com

Palm Oil in Session

The American Palm Oil Council is responsible for hosting the 4th Global Oils and Fats Business Forum USA to be held at The Marriott Gaslamp Quarters in San Diego, Calif., September 8-9, 2005. The forum will focus on the challenges faced by the industry and other developments/breakthroughs developed to achieve healthy oil. Forum highlights will include the shared experiences of expert members of the food formulation industry and their views on the pending ruling requiring labeling of trans fatty acids (TFA), which is effective January 1, 2006. Nutritional, scientific and economic updates on various oils and fats also will be spotlighted. American Palm Oil Council, 310-944-3910, www.americanpalmoil.com/4thconference.html

Splenda Tanning?

McNeil Nutritionals, the company marketing sucralose, plans a brown sugar version of the sweetener, according to a report in the April 3, 2005, edition of the New York Times. Promising a 50% reduction in calories, the new product is expected to be a blend of regular brown sugar and sucralose that has been colored brown. The sweetener will be known as Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and enters a troubled sugar market in the U.S., where sales of white and brown sugar are down 10% since 1999. www.splenda.com

The Sustained Prebiotic

An effective prebiotic improves the digestion process by increasing beneficial intestinal microflora and by reducing pH. Litesse[r] polydextrose from Danisco Sweeteners does just that and has a slower, sustained fermentation throughout the intestine. Unlike other prebiotics, Litesse, a specialty carbohydrate that is 90% prebiotic fiber, is less likely to cause the lactic acid accumulation that can lead to gastric discomfort. The increase in beneficial bacteria leads to the production of short-chain fatty acids, notably butyric acid (thought to reduce colon cancer risk). It is used widely as a premium bulking ingredient in sugar replacement, and it helps to make prepared foods and beverages sugar-free, low-glycemic and low-calorie. Danisco Sweeteners, IFT booth #2541, Donna Brooks, 800-255-6837, ext. 2521, donna.brooks@danisco.com, www.danisco.com/sweeteners

Flax and Smooth

Flaxseed is a significant source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Pizzey's Milling, a supplier of quality flaxseed products, has introduced an easy way for consumers to incorporate flaxseed into their lifestyle. This new product, SmoothOmega[tm], is finely ground golden flaxseed, which can be added to baked goods, yogurt, beverages and cereals. This product adds a pleasant, slightly nutty taste to foods, as well as all the health benefits of flaxseed--with little discernible change in the texture. Pizzey's Milling has been supplying the food and animal companion food industries with premium-quality flaxseed products for over a decade. Pizzey's Milling, IFT booth #3301, 877-804-6444, www.pizzeys.com

Oil on the Fast-tr

Canola and sunflower oils are an ideal and available solution to the dietary fat intake recommendations included in the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. More than 10 years ago, Dow AgroSciences recognized that trans and saturated fat in the diet was a growing health problem and food manufacturers needed a solution. “As a result, we 'fast-tracked' the development of Natreon[tm] canola and sunflower oils which are available today,” said David Dzisiak, global business leader for Dow oil/oilseeds division. Natreon oils are virtually trans fat-free, cholesterol-free, contain the lowest saturated fat levels of any vegetable oils on the market and can directly replace partially hydrogenated oils. Dow AgroSciences, IFT booth #1466, Robyn Heine, 317-337-4807, rheine@dow.com, www.natreon.com.