Hydrocolloids Boost Fiber, Not Viscosity

Meal replacement and nutritional supplement beverages are popular among health- and weight-conscious consumers. In such products, fiber is a key ingredient both for its nutritional value and for its ability to give consumers a feeling of satiety. Not all fibers, however, are ideal for beverage applications. Some contribute a gritty mouthfeel, while others contribute too much viscosity. To help product developers create good tasting, fiber-enhanced beverages, TIC Gums suggests Pretested Nutraloid Arabic Spray Dry Powder.

"We are seeing many orange flavor drink processors that are adding gum arabic for mouthfeel," says Florian Ward, PhD, VP of R&D for TIC Gums. "Now, they can claim soluble dietary fiber."

Highly soluble, low-viscosity
Gum arabic is an exudate gum from the acacia tree. Nutraloid Arabic has a high soluble fiber content (80% minimum, dry weight basis) making it particularly suitable for beverages where insoluble fibers can affect mouthfeel. Oat bran, for example, contains only 12% soluble fiber, which can limit significantly how much fiber can be added to the beverage.

Nutraloid Arabic also can improve mouthfeel due to its good emulsifying and water-binding properties. The resulting suspension is stable for long periods and can improve a beverage's appearance and texture. Other hydrocolloids may offer similar properties, but they may make a beverage too thick.

"If you're making a juice product, you want very little viscosity," says Ward. "By the time you add enough to reach a 2% fiber claim, you get a viscous mass."

Nutraloid Arabic offers these functional advantages without thickening the product. Even when used at levels of 5% to 10%, it does not appreciably increase viscosity.

Even better blended
Although Nutraloid Arabic can be used alone, some beverages might benefit from blending the gum arabic with guar gum.

"We recommend using multiple fiber sources for products that require no viscosity," says Ward. "With a guar and gum acacia combination, you can claim 2g fiber per serving without getting the high viscosity that other gums contribute."

In particular, Ward recommends TIC's Pretested GuarNT Bland Powder. Like Nutraloid Arabic, this gum contains not less than 80% soluble dietary fiber. In addition, a special proprietary process frees GuarNT from the "beany" or "mealy" odors and flavors common to typical guar gum.

Both gums are soluble in cold water making them easy to incorporate in the production facility.

For instant drink powders requiring more rapid solubility, each gum also is available in a prehydrated form.

TIC Gums, Inc, 4609 Richlynn Dr., Belcamp, MD 21017. Tel: 410-273-7300, or 800-221-3953. Fax: 410-273-6469.