When it comes to crisp baked goods such as wafers, the sound while eating is key to consumer acceptance. And that’s because perception of product quality, and even taste, are closely connected to acoustics. To demonstrate how calcium carbonate can easily improve mouthfeel without negatively impacting taste, Omya carried out a sound analysis, which showed a clear correlation between audible crispness and the content of Omya Calcipur® in a wafer.

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is on the rise. This trend highlights the link between pleasant joyful feelings and specific auditory and visual stimuli. With Mukbang, Korean consumers perfectly illustrate ASMR by publishing clips on social media to document the recording of special eating experiences. And this trend is the perfect opportunity to explore how Omya Calcipur® can help support appealing – and audible – crispness.

As a real all-rounder suitable for different technical processes, Omya Calcipur® has a positive impact on not only health but also sensory qualities, mouthfeel and color in numerous applications.

* Flavor Enhancement: When used in snacks and cereals, the particles provide better extrusion and intensify the perception of salty or sweet tastes.
* Texture: A trial with baked wafers has revealed how a specific amount of Omya Calcipur® can reduce the mass of the wafer by lowering moisture content due to increased heat transfer. This ultimately results in a crispier end-product.
* Reduced Cooking Time: The higher thermal conductivity of Omya Calcipur® compared to flour can be advantageous for manufacturers as it allows for a reduction in cooking time.

Measurements taken during the trial were weight, texture analysis, moisture content and food consumption noises. Wafers containing three different amounts of calcium carbonate (0%, 1% and 1.5%) were prepared in a norming process, cut into squares of 55 x 55mm and their weight measured. A combination of force measurement and acoustic detection was used to assess crispness, using an Acoustic Envelope Detector (AED) and a Texture Analyzer. Crispness was defined by the number of sound peaks detected during the structural breakdown of the wafer.

The texture analysis proved that the firmness of the wafer was not affected by adding calcium carbonate: the maximum force referred to the hardness of the wafer, which stayed constant. The sound analysis demonstrated that the addition of calcium carbonate significantly elevated the number of peaks and thus the crispness of the wafers. The addition of 1% calcium carbonate enhanced the number of peaks by 29%, while 1.5% addition of calcium carbonate resulted in a 48% increase.

“Eating as a means of wellbeing is as old as time, but in a world of mass consumption it’s more important than ever for manufacturers to create products that stand out from the crowd,” said Renata Negrini, Omya Technical Service Manager Food. “Here, Omya Calcipur® is key, as it’s an ingredient that not only helps optimize formulations and production process, but is also natural and healthy.”

About Omya Group
Omya is a leading global producer of industrial minerals – mainly derived from calcium carbonate, dolomite and perlite – and a worldwide distributor of specialty ingredients. In the Consumer Goods segment, Omya offers innovative solutions based on high purity natural minerals and complementary ingredients that comply with the most stringent regulatory and quality standards targeting the food, personal care, pharma, nutraceutical, pet care, home care and filtration markets. Founded in 1884 in Switzerland, Omya has a global presence extending to more than 160 locations in over 50 countries with 9,000 employees.

www.food.omya.com