Food and beverage manufacturers have evolved over time to develop many forms of better-for-you foods that not only keep longer, but are tastier and easier to prepare. However, a new movement also requiring food products to have a “clean label” is giving formulators a new challenge to overcome.

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More and more consumers are conscious about what they eat or drink as part of a healthier lifestyle. The importance of “free from” claims and a need for process transparency led to a direct focus on ingredient lists — specifically, the avoidance of ingredients with chemical-sounding names. This trend is referred to as “clean label” and has uncovered the food industry’s need to make ingredients easier for consumers to read and understand. 

Clean label can be defined a number of ways:

• A short list of easy-to-read ingredients
• No preservatives
• No artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners
• Not processed or minimally processed
• Ingredients lists without high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils

To capitalize on this trend, manufacturers should examine their ingredient lists to find opportunities to replace unwanted items with ones more recognizable. U.S. dairy ingredients are clean-label friendly because they are made from wholesome milk. They serve as seamless alternatives because of their unique set of properties that contribute to flavor, function and nutrition in finished products.

Dairy ingredients are effective substitutes for hydrogenated fats, chemical emulsifiers and/or less clean label-friendly carbohydrates in bakery products, beverages, dairy products, desserts, soups, sauces and prepared dinners. It is important to understand how dairy ingredients function in each food category to uncover dairy ingredients’ full potential as clean-label ingredients. 

Within our latest technical report, Dairy Solutions for Clean-Label Applications, you’ll find detailed information on this growing trend and a summary of scientific research describing how U.S. dairy ingredients can help achieve a more consumer-friendly label.

Visit our Supplier Search page for more information on sourcing U.S. dairy ingredients that help meet trends and satisfy consumer needs.