More than 50 food and beverage industry professionals, met in St. Louis to celebrate innovation at a grand opening event for ICL Food Specialties’ newly expanded research and development center.

ICL showcased new product technology in a clear, low-pH, Strawberry Limeade whey protein beverage; as well as a meat alternative hot dog.

Protein Management is an overlooked opportunity for retaining flavor. ICL Food Specialties is a leading technology resource for ingredient systems that manage protein more effectively with the more challenging safety requirements.

The ICL Food Specialties’ investment in technology expands far beyond the Mexican border. Facility upgrades and innovations are also in progress in the U.S., where the company will double the size of its Webster Groves, Missouri Technical Application Center to include an expanded bakery pilot plant, a test kitchen, a protein synergies lab, sensory evaluation facilities and new advanced technology for dairy, beverage and meat processing applications.

ICL Food Specialties used the Research Chef Association (RCA) Annual Conference and Culinology Expo to showcase several functional ingredients with a bayou inspired twist!

ICL Food Specialties’ Licresse™ natural food ingredient is a licorice plant extract with applications for food and beverages. Licresse is naturally high in antioxidant phenolic compounds, which makes it a versatile ingredient for most types of meat, bakery, dairy and beverage products.

ICL, a global manufacturer of products that fulfill essential needs in the agriculture, processed food and engineered materials markets, announced that its ICL Food Specialties business unit (“ICL FS”) has entered into a share purchase agreement (“SPA”) to acquire Prolactal GmbH, and its subsidiary, Rovita GmbH (collectively, “Prolactal”). Prolactal, based in Hartberg, Austria, and Engelsberg, Germany, is a leading European producer of dairy proteins and other ingredients for the food and beverage industries.