Emsland Group has developed a new range of clean label potato and pea starches that can be used in a range of food applications in place of modified starch.
Emsland spokesperson Patrick Geers told FoodNavigator that the new Emfix® K1 cook-up starches are produced using physical processes, which means they do not need to be labelled using an E-number. Rather, they can be labelled as simply ‘pea starch’ or ‘potato starch’.
Emfix® K1 can be used in a broad range of applications such as convenience foods like soups and sauces as binding and thickening agent with adapted gelatinization and dissolving properties. Furthermore it can be applied in dry mixes and liquid products as well as for catering systems. Emfix® K1 can be used in snacks and bakery as moisture regulator to extend shelf life and improve texture.
The starches were in development at Emsland for three years, and the main challenge, Geers said, was to match the quality, functionality and properties of a chemical modified starch. The two starches available now – one based on pea and one on potato – and the choice between them depends on the precise formulation requirements.
Geers said that further qualities and starch types are in development to expand the range.
