Non-GMO Ingredients...A Hot Topic This Summer

In recent years, controversy has developed around the topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), predominantly regarding their role in food production. There are millions of global stakeholders in this debate, including consumers, governmental organizations, scientists, and corporations. Altogether, we must determine whether genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption and healthy for the ecology of our planet.

 In agriculture, GMOs are plants that have had their genetic material altered to produce a desired trait, such as herbicide resistance or improved shelf life. These traits allow farmers to increase the world food supply to meet the needs of our growing population, and proponents argue that genetically modified plants pose no greater threat to humans than their conventional counterparts. Opponents, on the other hand, feel that the potential long-term impact of genetically modified plants has not been taken into consideration, and question the neutrality of regulatory agencies. Many individuals in the middle ground hold that consumers have a right to know if food products contain genetically modified ingredients, and would prefer for this information to be available on the label.

From a food industry perspective, manufacturers must now choose whether or not to use genetically modified ingredients in their products. The consumer demand for non-GMO food products has been on the rise in recent years, and many companies have chosen to cater to this market. In fact, Whole Foods announced in March 2013 that all products sold in its stores must be labeled to alert consumers if they contain genetically modified ingredients. For this reason, suppliers have seen a drastic increase in sales of non-GMO ingredients to food manufacturers not wanting to lose sales. In May 2013, more than two million people in over 50 nations protested the use of GMOs in food. This is more than another dietary trend. Consumers worldwide have turned against genetically modified food.

If manufacturers want to meet the demand for non-GMO food, synthetic processing ingredients often derived from genetically modified plants, such as soy lecithin, will have to be replaced. RIBUS can make this transition easier by providing all-natural, non-GMO alternatives to common processing aids. Give consumers what they want while improving the quality of your product with RIBUS ingredients!

Sources:

http://www.non-gmoreport.com/articles/aug10/suppliers_and_demand_for_non-gmo_ingredients.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/business/food-companies-seeking-ingredients-that-arent-gene-altered.html?ref=geneticallymodifiedfood&_r=2&

Chipotle Mexican Grill recently made national headlines with a groundbreaking decision to reveal GMOs used in their food. This was a bold move – the first of its kind among major food suppliers in the nation – and a testament to Chipotle’s commitment to people, animals, and the environment.

In 2001, Chipotle released a mission statement entitled Food with Integrity, which explains the chain’s commitment to serving natural and organic products to contribute to global sustainability. Particularly, Chipotle has expressed its efforts to use organic ingredients and naturally raised meat when possible. In 2011, 50% of all produce served in restaurants nationwide was sourced from small and midsize local farms, and 40% of beans were organic. These percentages are continually on the rise.

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have become part of the global food supply in recent years, and have generated much controversy from those concerned about health and environmental implications. Consumers are beginning to seek out non-GMO food products, but the Food and Drug Administration does not require producers to include this information on the label.

Without a doubt, Chipotle is responding to this consumer need, which will only bode well for them in the future. Though around half of the menu items still contain GMOs in some form, the company hopes to eliminate GMOs altogether as soon as possible. The genetically modified ingredients currently in use are soy and corn, which are often difficult to source in conventional form.

Nevertheless, RIBUS has a non-GMO, sustainable solution for soy lecithin replacement. Nu-RICE, extracted from rice bran, is available in natural or certified organic formulations.

With the demand for non-GMO products and ingredients on the rise, hopefully GMO disclosure will become a trend throughout the food industry.

Source:

http://www.naturalnews.com/040751_Chipotle_GMO_labeling_Whole_Foods.html

RIBUS Products are Natural, Organic and who knew...Kosher!

The market for kosher products holds considerable potential for modern manufacturers. Millions of consumers that keep kosher make purchasing decisions based on kosher certification. Its presence is a reassuring stamp of approval, and lack thereof is a deal breaker. Even consumers who are not keeping kosher interpret the certification as a symbol of quality and trust, knowing that production has been monitored by a third party. This raises the question, why is this market frequently overlooked?

Many people are unaware of what keeping kosher entails. Kosher foods abide by the Jewish dietary law contained in the torah. In fact, the Hebrew translation of the word means “fit for consumption.” Certain animals and animal products are considered unclean and are therefore not kosher. Kosher meat must have been slaughtered according to Jewish law, and meat must not be consumed with dairy.

Furthermore, in order for foods to be certified as kosher, a rabbi must inspect the processing facility to ensure that the processing system and all ingredients are kosher. For instance, there can be no cross-contamination from non-kosher foods during processing or handling. The length of the certification process varies from weeks to months depending on the number of adjustments required.

Common food additives could make the difference in attaining this certification. Numerous processing ingredients are derived from animal products and are inherently not kosher. Others fall into the gray area and must be carefully supervised throughout production if their use is permitted. For this reason, magnesium stearate, emulsifiers, dough conditioners, and glycerides are particularly risky.

That said, it is surprisingly simple to replace these unreliable ingredients with RIBUS products! Each of our formulations has been certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations (OU). Our products have countless practical applications, including emulsification, extrusion, and anti-caking.

The demand for kosher products is solid – more than a mere trend. Request a sample of RIBUS products today and take advantage of this valuable market!

Sources:

http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/news_home/Consumer_Trends/2013/05/Symbols_of_Quality.aspx?ID={BE8744F0-BC05-4B50-9B7F-20DBB5DDA703}

http://www.kosherquest.org/bookhtml/FOOD_ADDITIVES.htm