Ensuring that food is safe and remains fresh throughout its targeted shelf life is an ongoing challenge in the food industry. There are a wide range of chemical preservatives that extend shelf-life, however in today’s world of clean label products, food manufacturers in this space are drawn towards food safety ingredients that meet clean label demands while being naturally derived.
In this blog post we will explain what a clean label shelf-life extender is and how it can help maintain food safety.
WHAT IS A CLEAN LABEL SHELF-LIFE EXTENDER?
The scientific name for a clean label shelf-life extender is an antimicrobial. An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. In the case for food products, this means killing things like yeast, mold, gram negative and gram positive bacteria.
WHAT ANTIMICROBIALS DO WE SOURCE?
We offer clean label antimicrobials which are made by our manufacturing partner, DuPont. Each antimicrobial has a different composition and function. Our two most clean label antimicrobial offerings are MicroGARD® and BioVia™. On the chart below you can see the functions and applications for each antimicrobial.
MicroGARD®
The active compounds of MicroGARD® products are natural metabolites produced by fermenting selected food grade cultures on dairy- and/or sugar-based ingredients. With this line of products, we can supply our customers with the protective solutions and technology you require to produce, fresh, natural and clean label foods.
Applications include bakery products and fillings, dairy products such as cheese, low pH dressings and sauces, processed meat products, chilled and pasteurized ready-to-eat meals and soups.
**Certified Organic and Kosher/Pareve versions are available
BioVia™
BioVia™ is a natural, label friendly food protection solution that is specially designed to enhance the quality of a wide variety of shelf-stable and refrigerated products. It contains a special blend of active components such as cultured dextrose and plant extracts, which make it highly effective against difficult-to-control fungal spoilage organisms such as mold and yeast. BioVia™ is superior in quality and efficacy to traditional chemical preservatives such as potassium sorbate.
Applications include dips, sauces, condiments, refrigerated deli salads, processed poultry and meat products, including cured and uncured meats, diced, shredded and whole muscle meats.
**Certified Kosher/Pareve versions are available
HOW DO THESE INGREDIENTS APPEAR ON THE LABEL?
MicroGARD® 100, CM-150, 300, 400, 430
Customers label this ingredient as cultured non-fat dry milk, per the specification sheet.
MicroGARD® 210, CS-150, 520, 730, 740
Customers label this ingredient as cultured dextrose or cultured sugar, per the specification sheet.
MicroGARD® 910
Customers label this ingredient as cultured wheat starch, per the specification sheet.
BioVia™ YM 10
Customers label this ingredient cultured dextrose, natural flavors, per the specification sheet.
BioVia™ CL 600
Customers label this ingredient cultured dextrose, dried vinegar, per the specification sheet.
Consumers want food that is safe and long-lasting. Our line of antimicrobials helps food manufacturers ensure their food lasts longer and stays free of harmful pathogens. For questions on our lineup of clean label antimicrobials, contact us today.