IFT SELECTS DDW AS FINALIST IN VIDEO COMPETITION

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, USA — (May 16, 2012) – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has named D.D. Williamson as Finalist in its 2012 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo Video Competition. This is IFT’s first annual video competition. IFT will award a “Poppy” trophy to DDW during the Keynote Session on Tuesday morning, June 26th, in Las Vegas.

The humorous, two-minute video — entitled “That’s My Product!” — demonstrates what’s cool about being a food “geek.” IFT members submitted videos that were reviewed by judges for criteria including creativity and fun.

Click here to view the video, which demonstrates the process of creating a food product from start to finish:

Attendees of the IFT 2012 Annual Meeting and Food Expo will be able to watch highlights of the IFT 2012 Video Competition Finalist videos during the Keynote Session on Tuesday morning, June 26th. IFT attendees are also invited to stop by Booth 1551 of the expo to talk with some DDW associates who appear in the “That’s My Product!” video and see some food products from the video.

Visit DDW’s IFT 2012 Preview page for more information.

DDW would like to acknowledge the following associates who contributed to the video’s creation: Dan Granger, Brittany Thompson, Brian Black, Jennifer Brown, Parker Cox, Glen Dreher, Matt King, Scott Ondracek and Jody Renner-Nantz.

Application Scientist Describes Natural Colouring Challenges

LOUISVILLE, KY, USA– (May 15, 2012) – D.D. Williamson’s latest in its continuing Expert Answers series features Barry Foley, Applications Scientist, who served as 2010-11 President of the European Technical Caramel Association. In a video interview, Foley cites natural colour stability matching of synthetic hues as two big challenges for companies in Europe.

“On the stability and matching of hue,” Foley explains, “D.D. Williamson can work with our customers to try and get as close a match as possible, with the longest shelf life.”

You can watch the video here:

View all videos in the Expert Answers series:

http://www.ddwilliamson.com/expertanswers

http://www.youtube.com/expertanswerstv

Organic and natural holding strong

By Jessica Jacobsen, Managing Editor
Excerpts from BEVERAGE INDUSTRY magazine, April 2012, pp. 58-61

Natural claims show higher growth potential.

CONSUMER AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTH FOOD AND BEVERAGE CHOICES continues to grow and benefit the natural and organic beverage market. The market showed resilience during tough economic times with natural and organic food and beverage sales growing 9.4 percent in 2010 in mass merchandise, food, drug and convenience channels, as well as natural and specialty markets , according to a Mintel report titled “Natural and Organic Food and Beverage: The Market.” From 2009 to 2011, the natural and organic food and beverage market grew 20 percent, the October 2011 report adds.

COLORFUL CHOICES

“I think we’re going to see more and more beverage producers with new products coming out that are going to have the naturally derived colors in them and more natural, more toward the organic side and less formulations starting out with the synthetic colors,” says Glen Dreher, application scientist for beverages for D.D. Williamson, Louisville, Ky. “There’s less in the U.S of companies trying to replace synthetic colors in existing products. It’s really hard to do that because once the consumer knows your product in and out, they can detect really small changes, whereas when you’re formulating from the get-go with a new product it’s something new, it’s better, you can get more consumer acceptance that way.”

However, working with naturally derived colors can still present a challenge for beverage developers. Dreher notes that because of the lack of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) definition of “natural,” adding a naturally derived color to a product developed with other natural ingredients limits the manufacturer from using the claim of “100 percent natural” on the bottle if that source is not naturally found in that product.
The label claim limitation, though, does not hinder naturally derived colors’ appeal to consumers. Using natural derived colors, such as those offered by D.D. Williamson, can present a clean label with words and phrases that consumers recognize, such as beta-carotene, Dreher sys.

“Consumers are looking for a cleaner label; they want to see words they understand, recognize and can pronounce, and that’s where naturally derived colors have a good role,” he says. “Consumers are used to seeing beta-carotene or beta-carotene for color. They understand that; it’s not foreign to them. In their perception, it’s more natural.”
Beta-carotene as well as other ingredients from the carotenoid family can be used to answer increased requests for naturally derived yellow and orange hues. Dreher says emulsion technology advancements have allowed companies to offer clean color options versus the hazier appearance in the past. These advancements have been of interest for manufacturers, especially those developing enhanced waters.

The market also has seen requests for naturally derived pink and red hues delivered from anthocyanins, which are usually sourced from fruit and vegetables such as elderberries, purple carrots and purple sweet potatoes.
Although the ability to match synthetic colors is not an easy task depending on the color request, Dreher says more beverage developers are embracing that change.

“There is less of a concern from the producers to want to match an FD&C color exactly and more “Let me see a range of color that you can deliver,” and they adjust their hues,” he says.

The article continues …

Ten Products Containing Caramel and Natural Colors (Part Two)

In Part One, we asked our salespeople here at DDW to list some of the many naturally coloured food and beverage products. Here is part two of that same list of foods, drinks and candies that contain caramel color or natural colors. See if your favorite product makes the list:

6. ARCOR Blow Up! Bubble Gum

Argentina-based confectionary producer ARCOR makes bubble gum that is colored using natural colors, as stated on the front of each bag.

(Image source: http://www.arcor.com.ar/)

The company’s Blow Up! product is a candy-coated bubble gum with delicious fruity flavors and a liquid center that bursts in your mouth upon chewing the gum.
Submitted by: Claudio Ferri (Latin America)

7. Nestle Smarties

Nestle Smarties contain “no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.” The ingredient label states that Nestle Smarties use fruit and vegetable concentrates. Smarties are coloured using natural sources including safflower, radish, black carrots, lemon, hibiscus, and red cabbage.

(Image source: http://www.smarties.co.uk/products/)

This candy is very popular globally. If Nestle can switch this popular global product to natural colours instead of synthetics, then nearly any hard candy product could potentially be switched!

Submitted by: Mark Larson (North America)

8. SoBe Life Water

SoBe Life Water is a product that is probably familiar to many of you. Perhaps some of you even drink it on a daily basis!

(Image source: http://www.sobe.com)

SoBe utilizes a number of different natural colors in their Life Water product, including purple carrot, cochineal extract, grapeskin, and more.

Submitted by: Parker Cox (North America)

9. La Cure Gourmande

La Cure Gourmande makes products that are good inside and out; their delicious products are naturally coloured and beautifully packaged in a way that strives to provide the quality and “emotional attachment” of old-fashioned, handmade products.

(Image source: http://www.la-cure-gourmande.fr)

Available in many regions around the world, DDW associates often see these products at airports when we travel and remark at the gorgeous packaging. The beautiful designs are reminiscent of a “keepsake” or “giftbox” presentation. La Cure Gourmande produces chocolate-covered olives that are coloured with copper chlor green and carmine; caramels de qualite and other gourmet chocolate foods.

Submitted by: Anne O’Dwyer (Europe, North Africa and Middle East)

10. Boddingtons Bitter

One product closely affiliated with DDW in England is Boddingtons Bitter, which was originally advertised as “the Cream of Manchester.”

(Image source: Wikipedia)

Orginally brewed in Manchester (Strangeways) but currently brewed in Magor Wales by AB InBev, this “smooth and creamy” ale uses John Calland (Europe)

BONUS 11th Product: Cola Colored with Caramel

By the way, as a supplier of caramel coloring for the largest soft drink companies in the world, we couldn’t resist listing cola as a “bonus” eleventh product.

To learn more about DDW caramel color and how it can be used in various applications, visit http://www.caramel.com

Any products you’d like us to add?
Were you already familiar with these products? Did your favorite product make the list? Of course, this is just a tip of the iceberg in the world of natural colors and caramel coloring! In fact, it was very difficult narrowing it down to just ten products for this list.

If there are any products you’d like to add, be sure to leave us a comment below. Who knows… maybe you might even see your recommendation in a future article!

Ten Products Containing Caramel and Natural Colours

Each and every day, we come into contact with food and beverage products that achieve their hues through the use of caramel colour or other naturally derived colourings. In fact, many of the products you eat and drink each day probably include non-synthetic coloring to enhance their visual appeal!

D.D. Williamson, as a global supplier of caramel and natural colours, asked our salespeople to hand-pick a list of ten food and beverage products that contain either caramel colour or natural colours. We’re also including fun facts about each product.

See if your favorite food, drink, snack or candy makes the list!

Here’s Part One of our list. Click here for Part Two…

1. Tillamook Cheddar Cheese

Who doesn’t love cheese? Our top pick is a DDW customer: Tillamook. Tillamook Cheddar Cheese is unique in that it has been using the same cheddar cheese recipe for over 100 years – and that recipe contains just a few simple natural ingredients: cultured milk, enzymes, salt and (in the case of cheddar cheese) annatto extract.

(Image source: http://www.tillamook.com)

For those who don’t know, annatto is a natural coloring extracted from the seeds of tropical achiote trees. This coloring gives Tillamook and many other types of cheese a beautiful orange color!

Interesting fact for travelers: Tillamook cheese is served on many Delta airline flights – so next time you are offered an in-flight meal, ask for some cheese and crackers!
Submitted by: Graham Merryweather (DDW Global)

2. Green Home Instant Noodles

As the Green Home website says: “Who hasn’t enjoyed delicious instant noodles?” Green Home is one of China’s biggest exporters and manufacturers of instant noodles, which are colored with Caramel Powder in seasoning packs.

(Image source: http://www.noodle.net.cn)

Submitted by: Ellen Ye (DDW Asia)

3. Guarana Antarctica

Launched in 1921, Guarana Antarctica is the most popular guarana-flavored soft drink in Brazil. Now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Guarana Antarctica is manufactured in three countries. One of DDW Brazil’s first customers, InBev produces it just across the street from DDW’s Manaus facility. Striving to be “traditional and innovative at the same time,” Guarana Antarctica was the first to use the guarana seeds from Amazon State in Brazil (InBev also has a guarana farm near Manaus city).

(Image source: http://www.guaranaantarctica.com.br)

Guarana Antarctica currently ranks as the second best-selling soft drink brand in Brazil and the absolute leader in its segment. The caramel coloured refreshment is also among the 15 best-selling brands in the world.
Submitted by: Alessandra Barbosa (South America)

4. Red Bull Red Edition Energy Drinks

Red Bull already dominates the energy drink market, but that doesn’t limit their innovation. The company recently had a new idea to get creative with colours. This led to Red Bull developing its naturally coloured red edition drinks.

(Image source: http://www.redbull.at)

The Red Edition has a cranberry taste and a bright red colour, using black currant, carrot, and safflower.

In addition, Red Bull’s original cola is advertised as fully natural with no secret ingredients. Class One “Plain” Caramel Colour (or burnt sugar) used in the formula, along with natural colours.
Submitted by: Tibor Hanzely (Europe)

5. Barbician Peach-Flavoured Malt

Barbician Peach is a peach-flavoured version of the non-alcoholic Barbician malt that was first launched in the 1980s.

(Image source: http://www.aujan.com/web/)

The Barbician Peach-Flavoured Malt drink is brewed in the UAE by Aujan Industries. It is available across the Middle East.

Submitted by: Anne O’Dwyer (Europe, North Africa and Middle East)

Continue reading Part Two…

HOW DOES “CLEAN LABEL” RELATE TO CONSUMERS?

LOUISVILLE, KY, USA — (May 9, 2012) – “Clean label,” a term used by food manufacturers and marketers, has increased its frequency in product development conversations. How does the term relate to the consumer? David Schmidt, President and CEO, International Food Information Council Foundation, addressed the question during a video interview for DDW’s “Expert Answers” series.

A clean label “describes a trend to reduce the number of ingredients used in a food product, and to have the ingredient names be more pronounceable for the average consumer reading the label,” said Schmidt.

The clean label trend is not related to food safety for consumers and has no legal distinction or definition.

It “does not relate to the safety of a product as any ingredient or color added to food must be deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration before it is added to a food product,” added Schmidt.

View David Schmidt’s Full Biography

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