Baking & Snack - August 2017 - 70

FRUITS AND VEGETABLE POWDERS

As consumers reach for
healthier snacks, fruit
and vegetable powders
can give baked goods a
nutritional boost.
Kerry

Brigham Sikora, research, development and applications
director, Bakery, Kerry. "The innovation we are seeing
currently and some of the uses we are trying to explore
are using our vegetable and fruit powders to add claims
of servings of fruits or vegetables in the final product.
In some cases, we are also able to label just the fruit or
vegetable in the ingredient declaration with no other additives," Mr. Sikora said.
Kerry's portfolio of powders includes a wide range of
fruits, vegetables and specialty varieties such as Honey,
Maple Syrup and Balsamic Vinegar and have been applied to cookies, muffins and donuts as an added health
component.
"Traditionally, fruit powders have been used in bakery
items to add flavor and in some cases color," Mr. Lutomski
said. "But recent trends look for more than just taste,
color and ease-of-use; these trends are looking for ingredients with inherent functional benefits and clean labels."
The advantages of produce powders can be seen in
scientific studies as well as countless consumer trends.
For example, a 2016 study performed at the University
of Cincinnati Academic Health Center involving adults
who had mild cognitive impairment - a risk condition
for Alzheimer's disease - revealed that participants given the powdered equivalent of a cup of blueberries vs.
a placebo powder had improved cognitive performance
and brain function compared with those who took the
placebo. The blueberry group also demonstrated improved memory and improved access to words and concepts. As these studies reveal health benefits, powders
instead of other fillers could be used to leverage these
research-based claims and target consumers searching
for specific benefits.
Welch's Concord Fruit Powder is packed with a very

70 Baking & Snack August 2017 / www.bakingandsnack.com

wide variety of polyphenols. The polyphenols found
in concord grapes have been shown to help support a
healthy heart and early research indicates they also provide enhanced cognitive function. The powder format
has a denser concentration of the polyphenols allowing
it to have a real effect on products. "The baker will need
to determine what claims they are comfortable making,
but Welch's will gladly share its research to help our customer make that decision," Mr. Lutomski said.
Another factor to consider is the growing desire
among millennials for delicious snacks loaded with vital
minerals, nutrients and vitamins. "Snacking Motivations
and Attitudes US 2015," a recent report by Mintel, revealed they are more likely than older generations to buy
snacks with added nutritional benefits such as high fiber, energizing claims or protein content.
Kate Leahy, spokesperson for Sunsweet Ingredients,
noted that Sunsweet's new Dried Plum Powder's most
common use so far has been in bars with a health positioning. The powder, composed of 99% dried prune
plums, imparts the digestive benefits found in prunes
and contains high levels of powerful antioxidants. She
added that the powder can be used in place of flaxseed,
rice bran or citrus fiber for boosting fiber content. It can
also replace 50% of inulin or maltodextrin allowing for
reductions in sugar and salt.
FutureCeuticals offers manufacturers the ability to
deliver a clean label with substantiated USDA serving
claims through its line of TruServ Organic Whole Food
Powders that offer fruit and vegetable serving claims
based on USDA My Plate. Each claim has been verified
by FutureCeuticals' exclusive method of validation that
connects its extensive production data and the USDA
Nutritional database.

http://www.bakingandsnack.com

Baking & Snack - August 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baking & Snack - August 2017