Just as oxidation is a key culprit that impacts food and beverage quality and consumer acceptability, plant extracts are the industry’s superheroes that significantly delay or prevent myoglobin oxidation, and as a result, lengthen shelf life. Vitamin C-rich acerola cherry extract powder from Kemin contains active molecules that help to protect a variety of food and beverage products.

“Not only does acerola protect the organoleptic and nutritional qualities of products over the long term, as a single ingredient solution, it is an excellent consumer friendly option for meat manufacturers,” says Courtney Schwartz, senior marketing communications manager, Kemin Industries Food Technologies Division. “Acerola extract acts as a reducing agent, improving color stability in raw, uncured and cured meats, and sausage products. It also acts as a cure accelerator in cured meat products (as an alternative to erythorbate and ascorbate).”

Though acerola is an effective color protector on its own, it can also be used in combination with other extracts, like a blend of rosemary and green tea. Here, acerola capitalizes on the unique benefits of both extracts in order to maximize flavor and color retention during long term storage for enhanced protection. For example, when acerola is combined with a rosemary and green tea blend, it adds a full day of color stability to ground beef in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP).

Virtually all foodstuffs containing fats or oils are susceptible to oxidative rancidity. As the process progresses, both the sensory characteristics and nutritional value of the food deteriorate. The use of plant extracts like acerola effectively delays this process, ultimately lengthening shelf life.

Find out more about acerola benefits at www.kemin.com.

Kemin – Inspired Molecular Solutions
Kemin (www.kemin.com) provides “inspired molecular solutions” specifically developed to provide nutrition and health benefits for humans and animals. Committed to feed and food safety, Kemin maintains top-of-the-line manufacturing facilities where approximately 500 specialty ingredients are made for the global feed and food industries as well as the health, nutrition and beauty markets. A privately held, family-owned and operated company, Kemin has nearly 2,000 employees and operates in more than 90 countries with manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States.

Kemin Food Technologies
2100 Maury Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
Ph: 515-559-5100
Web: kemin.com