New starches enhance height, softness and shelf life

BRITISH owned clean label ingredient specialist Ulrick & Short can offer two starches that can increase shelf life significantly, as well as enhance the height and softness of bread loaves without changing taste or texture.

An addition of 2% of Synergie Melody and Synergie Superdust within a standard white loaf commercial recipe will provide up to a day’s additional shelf life with additional springiness maintained to at least the best before date. These starches maintain they effectiveness even if emulsifiers are reduced, thus giving bread manufacturers the opportunity to improve their product and clean up their labelling as these two new starches are wheat based.

Niamh Davern, Development Technologist at Ulrick & Short, explained: “The Synergie range has already proven itself in many food applications, including for thickening savoury sauces. This is a fresh development which has been undergoing trials for some time with a well-known bakery customer, and we’re completely confident in our claims of increased shelf life and volume, plus enhanced softness and springy texture – but with absolutely no adverse effects.

This new development is applicable to commercial manufacturers, in-house supermarket bakeries and artisan bakers for whom an additional day’s shelf life could bring a significant return on investment.

“At the moment bakeries may use enzymes to enhance their products artificially, with no requirement to declare these. According to Campden BRI this situation could change as the trend for clean and clear labelling gains yet more momentum, and our new products could provide far-sighted bakers with the first step in the race to stay ahead of the trends and their competition. This really is a win-win for everyone,” Davern said.