Ingredient supplier rolls out lecithin emulsifier solutions
AAK, a manufacturer of specialty vegetable fats and oils, has launched a line of natural plant-based specialty lecithin emulsifier solutions to help food manufacturers create healthier products with clean labels.
The “Akolec” line of products from AAK help improve nutrition, functionality and processing of a wide variety of food and beverages, with all products sourced from sunflower oil and soybean oil. The Akolec line of functional ingredients provides manufacturers benefits to improve performance in a wide range of food and beverage applications such as bakery, nutrition and confectionery, as well as plant-based dairy and plant-based meat products. AAK’s lecithin ingredients are available in liquid, powder, and fractionated forms, with options to create tailor-made solutions.
“We are excited to help our customer-partners achieve the ultimate solution in better-for-you foods with clean-label, non-GMO and organic lecithin that is traceable and globally recognized as sustainable,” said Ryan Branch, senior marketing manager, AAK USA. “Natural lecithin plays a vital role in ingredient system success, as it provides nutrition along with essential functionality that manufacturers need as they simplify formulations. This allows manufacturers to remove negative-sounding chemical ingredients such as mono and diglycerides and offer a clean label to their market.”
AAK’s Akolec brand of natural lecithin products can improve overall product performance by serving as a natural emulsifying and release agent, providing a smooth texture, homogenization, longer shelf life, added nutritional values, easier handling and more. “Akolec products offer functional and nutritional benefits for an unlimited number of applications,” said Branch. “For instance, in plant-based meat applications, lecithin can help you to achieve the needed functionality, without compromising on sustainability.”
He added that Akolec is an excellent source of choline, a nutrient that has been shown to enhance brain and liver performance.
AAK based in Edison, N.J., has more than 140 years of experience innovating and customizing solutions with a wide range of multi-use plant-based fats and oils. The company works together with customers to co-develop customized solutions.
“We have deep technical expertise and understand the functionality of lecithin in a variety of applications,” Branch said. “Together, we can help fulfill consumer desire for better-for-you, clean label and sustainable solutions that look, function and taste great.”