Food lipids specialist Sternchemie is highlighting its growing focus on sunflower lecithin as an alternative to IP soy, as well as recent investments in new processing plants.
SternInstant S, a sprayable sunflower lecithin, is particularly relevant for manufacturers of instant foods such as dried milk and protein powder. Thanks to the lecithin, the powder containing fat or protein disperses evenly in the liquid and dissolves readily even in cold liquids.
It can be used in a range of applications including drinks for athletes and dietetic shakes, coffee whiteners and dry beverage bases containing cocoa, as well as instant baby foods. The company’s extensive portfolio offers the lecithins in liquid form, deoiled and as a powdered compound of active substances.
According to the company, more and more manufacturers are switching to sunflower lecithin since there is currently no genetically modified sunflower seed on the market and there is an uncertain supply of IP soy. Sternchemie has carried out numerous trials which demonstrate that sunflower lecithin has nearly the same properties as IP soy and can replace it 1:1 in many applications, such as chocolate processing and in bakery products.
Sternchemie has recently established a new processing plant in Poland to meet increasing demand for sunflower lecithin. A new large-scale plant for manufacturing 4,000 tonnes per year of deoiled, powdered lecithin of different origins has also been commissioned in Singapore – the company reports a positive response to the product in the test market powder.
