The market for dairy permeate powder will “explode into life” – especially in Asia – once a global Codex standard comes into effect, Arla Foods Ingredients has predicted.
The introduction of a new standard could be as early as next year and has been prompted by dairy companies’ agreement to develop a new standard for permeate within two years at the Codex annual meeting in the summer. Arla Foods Ingredients – a leading producer of permeate and one of a number of dairy companies involved in trying to create a new standard – has said that the inception of a standard could address technical issues such as harmonisation of product quality and consistency.
Until now, many countries have been deterred from allowing dairy permeate in food and beverage products because of the lack of a global standard, Arla claimed. China, for example, offers huge potential for the ingredient, but the lack of a standard means that the authorities do not permit its use.
Morten Kaas, director general foods for Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “Permeate is a relatively new ingredient that has only been used in the food industry for the past ten to 15 years. When the Codex standard for dairy permeate is agreed, the market will explode into life. Most significantly, we hope China will authorise its use – and if that happens it is possible that other markets in Asia will follow. We’re confident that we’ll be able to fast-track the creation of the Codex standard so that it is in place during summer 2016. This gives food manufacturers an opportunity to start formulation trials now to see how permeate can benefit their business.”
Permeate is a by-product of whey manufacturing. It is a low-cost, carbohydrate ingredient often used as a bulk sweetener in snacks, chocolate, confectionery, ice cream, desserts, beverages and bakery products.
In total 733,000 tonnes of permeate were produced in 2014, according to figures from the International Dairy Federation. North America accounts for more than half of this, but the majority of output there is used in animal feed. However, in recent years Arla Foods Ingredients has invested significantly in the manufacturing of high quality food-grade permeate as a free-flowing powder with a pleasant and stable taste profile. Arla Foods Ingredients has a permeate production facility in Denmark, which manufactures kosher and halal certified whey permeate – demand for which is expected to increase in 2016.
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