Cargill Unveils New Sustainable Food Innovations

Cargill, the renowned food and beverage manufacturer from Minnesota, is proud to showcase three cutting-edge sustainable innovations at the eagerly awaited Food Ingredients Europe 2024.

The products include a novel sugar reduction solution, a delightful alternative to chocolate in the confectionary space and plant-based solutions that promise to transform the market.

Experience a new era of indulgence, while reducing sugar intake

Leading the charge is EverSweet, an advanced stevia sweetener marking a new era in sugar alternatives.

Cargill elaborates on consumer demand, stating: "Consumers are looking to reduce their intake of sugars without compromising on taste or label friendliness. Fortunately, next-generation stevia solutions are here to truly hit this market sweet spot."

This product does not just promise to maintain the taste but also enhances the health quotient of everyday foods.

Attention to consumer preferences is evident as Cargill highlights significant consumer trends: 64% of consumers now steer clear of sugar while shopping for packaged foods and beverages, while more than one in three are opting out of artificial sweeteners.

Developed through a joint venture named Avansya between Cargill and DSM-Firmenich, EverSweet has received approval for use in the UK. With a positive safety opinion from The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), it is anticipated to be authorised in the EU by early 2025. The secret to EverSweet's success lies in the use of advanced fermentation techniques that optimise the sweet components of stevia, specifically steviol glycosides Reb M and Reb D.

Cargill said: "With EverSweet, you can make significant sugar reductions to your food or beverage formulations without compromising on taste."

Moreover, the sustainable benefits of EverSweet are significant. Cargill shares an "internal lifecycle analysis highlights improved environmental performance in key metrics such as carbon footprint, water use and land use impact compared to production from leaf or bioconversion, or traditional sugar."

Sustainable and scalable alternative protein sources

Next on display is ABUNDA mycoprotein, a fermented protein that offers delectable alternatives to chicken and fish. Cargill describes a shifting landscape in the meat alternatives market in Europe, with a new focus on white meat and seafood categories. "The growing meat alternatives market in Europe is shifting focus from red meat alternatives to white meat alternatives and fish and seafood alternative categories," they explain, pointing to increasing consumer expectations for taste and texture in these products.

Current alternatives often fall short in texture satisfaction, presenting "market opportunities for improved texture and meat mimicking products," according to Cargill. The production of ABUNDA mycoprotein is in partnership with ENOUGH, emphasising that it is a "more sustainable and scalable alternative protein source that is label-friendly and nutritious."

Cargill not only focuses on the environmental aspect but also on consumer health, stating, "It offers labelling advantages for your products and enables you to meet your consumers’ demands for tastier, healthier and more sustainable foods."

Future-proofing food with sustainable substitutes 

In a bid to address the sustainability concerns linked to chocolate production, Cargill introduces a revolutionary approach through its product, Cargill Indulgence Redefined. This alternative to traditional chocolate and nut-based products in various food sectors is developed in collaboration with Voyage Foods.

Harnessing the potential of plant-based sources such as grape seeds and sunflower kernels, this innovation offers a viable and sustainable substitute. Cargill underlines the critical consumer sentiment, noting that: "76% of the consumers want to buy more sustainable chocolate or cocoa-based products but are unsure how to go about it."

The sustainable credentials of this product are impressive, boasting up to 95% lower water footprint, up to 90% lower land-use-related impacts and up to 61% reduction in carbon footprint.

Cargill's new offerings at Food Ingredients Europe 2024 highlight not only advanced food technologies but also an unwavering commitment to sustainability and consumer health, advancing a more sustainable future in the food and drink industry.

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