Wacker introduces food solutions to SEA market

ALL eyes are on Asia, and in particular the South East as its affluence grows. The region’s changing demographics and growing health awareness among consumers are increasing the demand for natural products and ingredients, as well as for fat-reduced and fat-free food products. At the same time, consumers are more frequently opting for dietary supplements or food products with additional benefits, so-called functional foods, to enhance their wellbeing. In many Southeast Asian countries, vegetarians account for a large part of the population, which fuels the need for food solutions without animal-derived products. Furthermore, the demand for processed food is set to rise steadily in the next years. And the roughly 40percent Muslim population needs food that has been certified as halal in line with religious requirements. 

For these reasons, Southeast Asia has become an important market for dietary supplements and novel food solutions. With its portfolio of cyclodextrins, cysteine and hydroxytyrosol, WACKER offers solutions for the special demands and needs of the region.

Cyclodextrins for food applications 

Cyclodextrins are ring-shaped sugar molecules (oligosaccharides) that have been known to science and research for over 100 years. According to the number of glucose units, a distinction is made between α-, β- and γcyclodextrin: α-cyclodextrin consists of six, β-cyclodextrin of seven and γcyclodextrin of eight glucose units. As natural starch conversion products, they can be biotechnologically produced for industrial use by enzymatic degradation from starch-containing raw materials, such as corn or potatoes. They are non-allergenic, vegetarian and are produced from renewable raw materials. 

Cyclodextrins’ special ring-shape creates an interior cavity, similar to a donut, in which they can take up other, primarily hydrophobic substances. In this way, the sugar molecules can bind ingredients, release active agents or stabilize sensitive substances and interfaces. So, in the food industry, cyclodextrins have important functions like masking an unpleasant taste or stabilizing sensitive food ingredients such as vitamins. In addition, they can be used as soluble fibers, and their emulsifying properties can be applied.

New approaches to vegetarian applications

Processed food such as mayonnaise, ready-to-eat meals and desserts often contains emulsifiers or flavors derived from animal sources – a taboo for many people in Southeast Asia who only consume vegetarian or halal-certified food. Cyclodextrins offer a plant-derived and cholesterol-free alternative here: the ring-shaped sugar molecules are naturally occurring carbohydrates that WACKER produces enzymatically from plant-based raw materials such as corn or potatoes. Thanks to their special structure, they can stabilize oil-inwater emulsions and thus replace conventional animal-derived emulsifiers, e.g. egg yolk in mayonnaise and salad dressings or caseinate (milk protein) in instant coconut milk powder. 

Similarly, WACKER’s fermentation-generated cysteine can be used as a vegetarian-grade raw material for flavors and processing aids in bakery applications. Unlike many other manufacturers who extract this amino acid from human or animal sources such as hair, feathers or pig bristles with the aid of hydrochloric acid, WACKER produces cysteine by fermentation in a patented biotechnological process – the first company in the world to do so. Since it is manufactured from purely plant-based raw materials, WACKER’s cysteine is both halal and kosher, as well as entirely vegetarian and even vegan. 

Functional solutions for dietary supplements

Many plant extracts have components that are believed to offer health benefits: catechins in green tea, for example, are said to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, while red ginseng reputedly strengthens the body’s immune system. These preparations are very popular in countries such as China, South Korea and Japan. The downside is that the extracts usually have a bitter aftertaste. Cyclodextrins can help to mask these bitter flavors, while retaining the health benefits. 

Cyclodextrins can also considerably enhance the body’s absorption of hardly soluble active ingredients. Curcumin, for example, is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that is used in traditional medicine in India and China. However, curcumin is not readily absorbed into the human bloodstream. With the aid of γ-cyclodextrin, its bioavailability can be increased by a factor of around 40 compared to conventional turmeric extracts, as shown in a recent clinical study. 

Another functional solution WACKER offers for dietary supplements is nature identical hydroxytyrosol. Hydroxytyrosol, a secondary plant metabolite, is considered one of the most effective antioxidants in nature. Antioxidants are among the most popular dietary supplements, due to their ability to scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. Hydroxytyrosol is reported to strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation and improve bone and joint health. Above all, it is said to protect blood lipids from oxidative damage, an effect that prevents cardiovascular disease and lowers the risk of stroke. 

Although hydroxytyrosol is a popular ingredient in dietary supplements and cosmetics, one drawback, until recently, was the way it was produced. In nature, hydroxytyrosol is found in olives and olive leaves – but its extraction is complex, labor- and cost-intensive, and produces a varying content of active ingredient in the end product. WACKER has now developed a novel process to fully synthesize this compound: Its new product, HTEssence®, features markedly higher purity with a defined amount of active ingredient. 

The controlled production process not only offers supply security, but also ensures that HTEssence® does not contain any unwanted byproducts, impurities or contaminants. As a result, HTEssence® is free of all main allergens and pesticides and suitable for use in functional foods and dietary supplements, such as tablets, capsules, energy bars and functional beverages.

Related report: Wacker opens food lab in Singapore