DuPont launches natural antioxidant blend

18-Jun-2012 - Last updated on 19-Jun-2012 at 11:17 GMT

DuPont Nutrition & Health has followed the launch of natural metal chelator Guardian Chelox L in the US with a version containing rosemary extract, an antioxidant, tailored to European markets.

The product meets regulations not just in the EU, but in greater Europe as well. Like its US cousin, Guardian Chelox L (EU) is designed to enhance the freshness and taste of high lipid food emulsions such as mayonnaise and dressings. It is intended to be a substitute for Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA) and other synthetic antioxidants to meet demand for natural ingredients and product flavour.

The ingredient has been successfully tested in a range of products, including margarine and spreads, and has patent pending status. The extraction process conforms to consumer expectations for 'natural' ingredients and also meets EU regulation.

Both US and EU blends uses natural chamomile flavouring to enhance and stablise the freshness and flavours of foods containing oils and fats, while maintaining a clean label. It can also be used in other food products where rosemary extract is approved for use.

Jorgen Sorensen, DuPont Nutrition & Health global business director - antioxidants told FoodNavigator: "Guardian Chelox L is a natural soltuion offering a strong value added alternative to EDTA or synthetic antioxidants. In-house trials have shown there to be significant shelf-life benefits for a natural solution and these are dependent upon application use. We are working with major customers who have expressed interest in incorporating our natural solution into their applications."

Antioxidant protection

Internal testings on samples of 40% fat ranch dressing stored at 25 degrees celsius compared the performance of Guardian Chelox L (EU) against that of EDTA and a control sample containing no antioxidants. Measuring hexanol content over a 12-month period, results showed antioxidant protection similar to that of EDTA in the samples containing Guardian Chelox L (EU).

"Historically, manufacturers have looked to synthetic ingredients such as EDTA for metal chelation and to BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytolune) for free-radical scavenging activity," said Paul McKey, DuPont Nutrition & Health product manager for Europe and the Rest of the World - protective antimicrobials and antioxidants. "But now DuPont offers a natural alternative in a single solution that provides manufacturers with the functionality of both these types of ingredient."

DuPont Nutrition & Health launched Guardian Chelox L in North America in February and the company said it had performed well. Guardian Chelox L (EU) will join other natural protective solutions in the DuPont Danisco ingredient range, including Nisaplin and Natmax antimicrobials, Holdbac and other protective cultures and other Guardian branded natural extracts.