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US-based ingredient supplier Fiberstar has launched a citrus fibre designed to replace acacia gum in beverages, targeting manufacturers grappling with supply instability, ethical sourcing concerns and rising formulation risk linked to gum arabic.

The new ingredient, Citri-Fi Pro, is positioned as a natural emulsification and stabilisation solution that can replace up to 75% of acacia gum or modified food starch in beverage formulations.

Acacia gum, widely used in flavoured beverages, emulsified drinks and concentrates, is largely sourced from Sudan and neighbouring regions that have faced prolonged geopolitical instability.

Disruption risks and heightened scrutiny around human rights and environmental impacts have pushed beverage companies to reassess their reliance on the ingredient.

Fiberstar said the launch comes as food and drink manufacturers prepare for tighter supply-chain accountability requirements, including the proposed EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which would require companies to identify and mitigate human rights risks across their sourcing networks.

“Beverage makers are actively seeking alternatives as regulatory and ethical pressures reshape ingredient sourcing,” said John Haen, president and chief executive of Fiberstar. “Future access to acacia gum from conflict-affected regions is increasingly uncertain.”

Citri-Fi Pro is derived from upcycled citrus fruit and produced using a physical process rather than chemical modification, according to the company.

Fiberstar said the ingredient offers cost-in-use savings by reducing overall hydrocolloid requirements, while allowing brands to maintain beverage stability, mouthfeel and shelf life.

The ingredient can be labelled as citrus fibre, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour, which may appeal to clean-label beverage brands seeking simpler declarations. It is allergen-free and gluten-free.

For beverage manufacturers, the development highlights a broader shift away from single-origin, geopolitically exposed ingredients toward fibres and texturisers with more diversified and transparent supply chains.

Fiberstar, a privately held company headquartered in Wisconsin, specialises in citrus-based fibres used across food and beverage applications, including drinks, dairy alternatives, sauces and pet food.

Its Citri-Fi portfolio is already used by manufacturers seeking alternatives to modified starches and traditional gums.