Penford launches potato starch based casein replacer

Penford Food Ingredients, a leader in innovative carbohydrate systems and technologies, is adding to its impressive line-up of modified starch systems with the launch of PenTech™ 8500, a breakthrough casein replacement ingredient. PenTech 8500 is a modified potato-based food starch that incorporates Penford’s new PenNovo™ technology. 

PenTech 8500 reduces the use of high-priced rennet casein to 10 percent in a standard imitation cheese formulation, while still maintaining superior melt, stretch and mouth-feel in cheese products. This is a valuable benefit considering the fluctuating price of rennet casein. The typical use level of rennet casein in a standard imitation cheese formulation is about 23 percent. Therefore, using PenTech 8500 reduces casein usage by 50%. 

PenTech 8500 is the latest addition to Penford’s imitation cheese starch line that includes PenBind® 800, PenBind 850, PenBind 851 and PenBind 1225. Depending on the cheese product and targeted functionality, Penford has a casein replacement that fits the need. 

Technical Benefits

• Superior melt and stretch for low casein cheese
• Excellent shred and matt
• No flavor interference
• Firmness
• Enhanced water/oil stability
• Maintains great performance at 10 percent casein usage

Recommended Applications

• Pizza cheese
• Shredded cheese
• Sliced cheese
• Block cheese

“The continued expansion of our casein replacement portfolio is further evidence of Penford Food Ingredients commitment towards creating value-added ingredient solutions for our customers,” said John Randall, President of Penford Food Ingredients. “Our PenTech 8500 is the latest example of a cost-effective and improved product that can help reduce the effects of rennet casein’s price unpredictability.”