Our plant-based ingredients
will make your recipes tastier, healthier and safer across a wide range of products.
The rapid rise in popularity of plant-based foods is the most noticeable trend to emerge in the food industry during the past decade. The reasons for this range from health, ethical and environmental concerns to government regulations. Our goal at WCA Food Solutions is to help food producers to meet the demand from this fast-growing trend, by introducing producers to our range of innovative products, all of which are plant-based and clean-label.
Our products are positioned at the convergence of a number of trends, such as government’s intervention in the food industry, whereby food producers are required to reduce the amount of harmful ingredients in a product. Evidence of this is the expected implementation of attention-grabbing labels on the front of food packaging, containing easy-to-understand nutritional information for all customers. This, combined with the consumers’ growing desire for healthier food and the producers’ need to satisfy their customers’ needs for such food, means that demand for our products will continue to increase.
As the diets of the majority of South Africans have changed over the recent past, we have noted the effects of modern western diets on the majority of South African people. Due to the consumption of foods with high levels of salt, sugar and fat, the population has experienced a rapid rise in non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. At the same time, doctors have also seen an increase in the number of patients with food-related allergies. Solving these health problems will lead to a healthier, happier nation and workforce, freeing up scarce government resources for other uses.
Furthermore, the effects of COVID and the accompanying lockdowns at various levels has led to more and more people suffering from stress-related maladies such as an inability to sleep at night, and concentrate during the day, as well as reduced immune health. To try and alleviate the effects of this stress, we are currently working with a partner to introduce ingredients into the South African market for use in the development of new products which can address some of the stress-related health conditions.
Salt of the Earth has produced sustainable sea salt solutions since 1922. In response to recent government regulations and growing health trends, the company has introduced a 50% reduced-sodium salt, as well as the award-winning, sodium-reducing and umami flavour enhancing, Mediterranean Umami Bold. These products can be used in a wide variety of recipes to enhance flavour and reduce the use of salt (by as much as 45%) and MSG. In savoury sauces, the amount of sugar can also be substantially reduced. A powdered version of Mediterranean Umami has also been developed for the snack industry.
N.M.S. has developed innovative natural flavours and antioxidant management solutions. These are carefully formulated to improve food quality and enhance health. Greenox benefits retailers, producers and consumers by extending the shelf life of products and slowing the deterioration of the products, all the while keeping the flavours intact.
ChickP produces a line of high-purity chickpea isolates, unique by their natural taste, functionality and superb nutritional properties. ChickP products are more than 90% pure protein, with a complete amino acid profile. They are suitable for a wide range of applications, including ready-to-eat foods, dried-blend beverages, dairy analogues, meat analogues, pastries, confectionaries, bars, shakes, and snacks, and also work well as an egg-replacement.
Ounje is a ‘food colouring’ for plant-based meats. Ounje creates a heme-like colour as well as succulence and sizzle similar to that of real meat. This microalgae derived products comes from Yemoja, a marine cultivation company that has developed proprietary technology to provide nutrient-rich ingredients to the food industry which are high in protein, vitamins and minerals, nutritional fibre and essential fatty acids. This closed-cultivation system allows for year round production in a sustainable way, without being dependent on external factors such as climate to produce ingredients of consistent quality and volumes.
Our plant-based ingredients allow producers to create healthier alternatives, so retailers can provide consumers with the on-trend food products they demand. For more information about WCA Food Solutions, get in touch with us today.
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