Vitamin c, or ascorbic acid, is an important nutrient for the human physique to take care of regular perform. Vitamin c has been recognized for its well being advantages in energizing the physique, boosting immunity, and offering structural assist, resembling serving to to kind cartilage, bone, and collagen. Vitamin c additionally has antioxidant properties defending cells from injury attributable to free radicals.
Whereas vitamin c is of course discovered in lots of fruit and veggies, most vitamin c used for dietary supplements and drinks is synthetically derived. Unusual contemplating that natural gross sales are ascending to new heights yr over yr, surpassing $63 billion within the U.S. for the primary time in 2021 [1]. Nonetheless, synthetic vitamin c remains to be the business norm principally due to the recognized challenges in extracting it from pure sources. Happily, for manufacturers attempting to take care of a pure or natural label, there are new vitamin c ingredient options rising in the marketplace.
In recent times, Utilized Meals Sciences (AFS), a Texas-based ingredient analysis firm, has been finding out new superfruits throughout the globe. From the Australian Kakadu Plum to the Amazonian Camu Camu, AFS has been constructing its experience in understanding and extracting excessive concentrations of naturally derived vitamin c. One of many rising stars on this class is acerola cherries, a small stone fruit that grows predominantly in South America. AFS’ newest ingredient launch seems poised to assist the business on the excellent time when immune well being merchandise are in excessive demand.
Acerola Cherries – AdobeStock
A superb supply of “natural” vitamin c
Do you know greater than 70 fruit and veggies comprise nutritious ranges of vitamin c that may contribute to a nutritious diet? Nevertheless, for many botanicals, the extractable quantities of vitamin c are inadequate of their uncooked kind to assist a commercially viable ingredient for meals, drinks, and complement purposes. Utilized Meals Sciences addresses the recognized challenges of reaching sufficient efficiency, solubility, and stability with a first-of-its-kind ingredient referred to as PurC® natural vitamin c, extracted from acerola cherry fruits.
Acerola incorporates seventy instances extra vitamin c than different fruit and veggies by weight [2]. In keeping with AFS, the corporate can harness a efficiency of 25% vitamin c extract in a powdered supply system that’s totally water soluble. This progressive ingredient provides a refined tart taste with a touch of sweetness to any beverage, gummy, meals, or complement. Companies can be taught extra about AFS’ newly developed PurC® natural vitamin c and request a pattern by visiting the web site (right here).
Advantages of natural vitamin c
Useful natural meals and drinks are a number of the fastest-growing classes out there. In keeping with SPINS, the expansion charge for gross sales of pure and natural practical meals & drinks is outpacing standard by greater than 200% [3]. As manufacturers change from artificial to organic-certified vitamin c, they profit drastically by cleansing up their label to raised align with shopper scorching buttons like “plant-based” and “free-from synthetic elements.” As well as, licensed natural elements present yet another pathway for manufacturers to keep away from artificial components.
On the subject of the human physique, vitamin c is a vital micronutrient. It might increase a wholesome immune system, defend towards oxidation, promote coronary heart well being, help with iron absorption, and help with collagen formation to assist keep wholesome pores and skin. Natural vitamin c may also assist a nutrient content material declare. The each day worth (DV) for vitamin c is 90 mg for adults [4]. A product could be thought-about “Excessive in antioxidant vitamin c” if it incorporates 20% or extra of the RDI for vitamin c, assembly the extent for “excessive” outlined by 21 CFR §101.54(b) by the FDA. For a product to qualify for a “Good Supply of Antioxidant Vitamin C” declare, it should comprise 10-19% of the RDI for vitamin c [5].
Beverage meeting line – AdobeStock
Purposes for natural vitamin c
By working with hundreds of manufacturers annually, Utilized Meals Sciences has helpful insights into how producers efficiently incorporate vitamin c into their merchandise. As a result of exceptionally excessive solubility of PurC® natural vitamin c extract, the most typical purposes are liquids resembling ready-to-drink drinks (RTDs).
“Photographs and RTDs now can simply add natural vitamin c of their elements as a result of as little as 120mg of our fully-soluble PurC® is taken into account a superb supply of vitamin c,” explains Jackson Zapp, VP of Innovation at AFS. “Different merchandise that prioritize solubility embody stick packs, powdered drink mixes, and effervescent tablets, the place PurC® can mix with different dry elements within the formulation. Nevertheless, as soon as the tip shopper mixes the product with water, PurC® will readily dissolve into answer.”
RTD’s – AdobeStock
An often-undervalued formulation profit for natural vitamin c is that it’s a pure pH modifier. Attributable to its acidic nature, PurC® can alter the pH levelsof the drinks, which may help within the stability and shelf lifetime of the ultimate product. A decrease pH setting will assist in lowering the expansion of pathogenic micro organism. Consultants recommend concentrating on a pH threshold of 4.5 or under [6]. In keeping with AFS, ongoing lab exams verify that PurC® can alter drinks with the baseline pH of water (round 6.27) to under 4.35, assembly the specified goal threshold of many beverage formulations.
Whereas natural vitamin c in PurC® is most recognized for its well being advantages, it additionally has sensible formulation benefits for meals producers. For instance, PurC® is a potent antioxidant that may assist stop baked items from going stale. For bread, pastries, and different baked items, the powdered supply system of PurC® is good as a result of it will possibly mix simply with different dry elements and is comparatively steady in excessive warmth.
Sustainability and Certifications
Acerola fruit used to make PurC® comes from Brazil by way of a community of small-scale agricultural farmers that management its manufacturing. Sourcing on this method helps enhance transparency, monitor environmental influence, and safe a extra steady provide chain that may scale to fulfill at present’s natural vitamin c market. PurC® can also be licensed Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO Challenge Verified, and USDA natural.
For over 20 years, Utilized Meals Sciences (AFS) has supported the pure merchandise business with progressive practical elements. From rural farmers to the most important corporations on the earth, AFS values each stakeholder and is proud to introduce PurC® natural vitamin c to the meals, drinks, and complement industries. To see all the portfolio of AFS elements, please go to Appliedfoods.com.
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