BENEO is targeting the burgeoning clean label trend with the first functional native rice starch from the Group’s rice business unit [formerly known as BENEO-Remy]. Remypure, which is the biggest launch from this business unit in recent years, qualifies as having a natural and clean label status worldwide. It also shows very high stability under demanding process conditions [low pH, high temperatures and high shear], which is a very important element in the description of the product.
BENEO has just begun production of Remypure, with early commercial applications occurring in retorted sauces, dairy desserts, fruit preps and baby food. These are applications where the ingredient has shown its high stability under demanding process conditions. Capacity of several thousand tons exists for the product at the company’s Wijgmaal (Belgium) facility, and the line has been structured in a modular way, in order to be able to expand quickly and easily and therefore cope with the anticipated fast growth in sales volumes.
“Remypure provides food manufacturers with three decisive characteristics. This relates to: stability during the entire shelf-life, an excellent freeze thaw stability, and a very delicate texture. All of this while still having a very clean and pure taste,” Marc-Etienne Denis, Commercial Managing Director BENEO-Remy told FoodIngredientsFirst in a detailed interview.
Denis explained that the company’s existing portfolio is composed of native and modified rice starches, where the modification takes place in order to achieve more functionality in terms of providing texture and body. “Remypure is a native rice starch which has been functionalized through a specific process, whereby we increase the functionality of the rice starch. This means that it can still be considered native, natural and clean label, but with a level of performance that is comparable with chemically modified starches. BENEO successfully implemented a thermal inhibition process, which allows for the improvement of the functional properties, without the use of chemicals,” he noted. The company is working on further development of the product range. Denis was coy on specifics about the process itself.
Denis confirmed that the launch is the result of a major project, which ran for almost three years and required an investment of several million Euros.. “We have some industrial partners already, including some major names in the food industry. The strong feedback that we have received confirmed to us that Remypure is the right answer for an industry looking for high performance clean label ingredients,” he said. The commercial launch will happen this month with launch activities planned in the coming weeks.
Denis believes that Remypure will enable the company to target applications using alternatives sources of clean label starch, as rice is claimed to have a number of benefits. “The uniqueness of rice starch as an ingredient compared to other starches relate to its small granule size to benefit mouthfeel and the ratio of amylose and amylopectins, which will really give the texture and stability characteristics to the product. Rice is very white in color, so it does not disturb the color of the application. It is also well known for its hypoallergenic properties and its easy digestibility,” he adds. He is therefore eyeing opportunities in targeting customers now using clean label starches from other sources, who could make the switch to a rice starch based on these advantages.
