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As clean-label expectations continue to shape food and beverage innovation, manufacturers are under growing pressure to simplify ingredient lists while maintaining product safety, quality and shelf life.

This is especially important in categories such as non-alcoholic beer, ready-to-drink cocktails, sauces, dips and chilled products, where microbial stability is critical. Chinova Bioworks has developed Chiber Mushroom Extract to help manufacturers meet these demands.

Derived from upcycled white button mushroom stems, Chiber is a natural antimicrobial ingredient designed to support shelf-life extension and microbial stability across a wide range of food and beverage applications.

Chiber is produced from purified chitosan fibres sourced from white button mushrooms grown on organic farms in Canada and the US. These positively charged fibres interact with the negatively charged cell walls of microorganisms, helping inhibit microbial growth and protect products from spoilage.

The ingredient provides broad-spectrum protection against spoilage organisms including yeast, mould, gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria. It can also help manufacturers manage microbial risks associated with pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli, making it particularly relevant for products where preservation and safety are central formulation challenges.

Meeting clean-label expectations without compromise

For manufacturers, preservation is not only about safety and shelf life. It is also about protecting the consumer experience. Many natural preservation systems can affect flavour, aroma, colour or texture, creating formulation trade-offs for brands seeking to deliver premium products.

Chiber is designed to be flavourless, odourless and colourless, helping protect the intended taste, texture and appearance of finished products. This makes it suitable for applications with delicate flavour profiles, including hop-forward non-alcoholic beers, carbonated beverages and refrigerated foods like yogurt and dips.

The ingredient also supprts clean-label goals by helping brands replace synthetic preservatives such as potassium sorbate. Depending on the application and regulatory market, it may be listed as 'Mushroom Fiber Extract,' 'White Button Mushroom Fiber' or 'Natural Flavour'. Chiber is also vegan, kosher, halal certified, gluten-free, allergen-free and organic compliant.

For beverage producers, Chiber offers an alternative to energy-intensive tunnel pasteurisation. By supporting microbial stability without heat treatment, it can help preserve hop character, carbonation and fresh flavour while reducing the need for expensive processing equipment. It can also support draft service of non-alcoholic beer by helping control microbial growth in keg lines.

Sustainability is another important advantage. Chiber is made from upcycled mushroom stems, transforming an underused agricultural by-product into a functional food protection ingredient. By extending freshness and reducing spoilage, it helps brands address food waste while supporting cleaner, more efficient production.

For manufacturers seeking natural preservation without compromising quality, Chiber Mushroom Extract offers a practical route to cleaner labels, longer shelf life and more sustainable food and beverage innovation.

Find out if Chiber is the right fit for your product by getting in touch here.