Ingredient processing offers many benefits including the preservation, distribution and marketing, protection from pathogenic microbes and toxic substances, year-round availability of many food items, and ease of preparation on the part of the consumers.
Once food is harvested, it begins to degrade immediately. Due to its perishable nature, fresh produce needs to undergo processing methods to extend shelf life by reducing the water content. All food-processing techniques are meant to stabilize moisture content in food and inhibit microbial growth. Thus, the purpose of processing is to maintain the stability of the ingredient’s functionality.
There are many ways to process ingredients. Drying is by far the oldest and most common method of keeping food safe for long periods of time. Dietary ingredients such as fruits, vegetables and herbs are found in either powder (loose or encapsulated) or liquid form. Some of the ingredient processing methods used to process our ingredients include freeze drying, spray drying, drum drying, air drying, convection drying and vacuum drying. Following is a short explanation of each method with a list of some of our products which use each method:
Freeze Drying (Lyophilization)
A gentle, time-consuming procedure which protects the cellular structure of the raw material and retains the most color, flavor and nutrients. No additional additives/preservatives are necessary and damage to the material is very minimal. Freeze-dried products can be reconstituted quickly and easily and the method is best used for preserving food. However, it is also a very expensive process.
Products include: Acai FD (organic), Dragonfruit FD Powder, MaquiForza™, Strawberry FD Powder, and CocOganic®Plus
Spray Drying
A rapid drying yet gentle method which is used to produce powders and is widely used in products for the functional food, pet food, and pharmaceutical industries.
Products include: Camu Camu Juice Powder Vit. C 20%, Coconut Water Powder, Coconut Milk Powder, Cupuacu Juice Powder, Dragonfruit 10:1, Elderberry 10:1, Goji Juice Powder (organic), Jabuticaba Juice Powder, Lemon Juice Powder, Mango Juice Powder, Monk Fruit and Pomegranate Juice Powder (organic)
Drum Drying
A process where pureed raw ingredients are dried at relatively low temperatures over rotating, high-capacity drums that produce sheets of drum-dried product. This product is then milled to a finished flake or powder form.
Product: Tart Cherry Juice Powder
Air Drying
A common and cost effective method although the process is slow and weather-dependent. It is best used in a climate with high temperatures and low humidity. Air-drying is recommended for herbs and grains due to its flavor retention quality. Included in this category is sun drying, where raw materials are laid out and placed to dry in the sun and the open air. Unlike vegetables, this process works well for fruits because of their high sugar and acid content. Industrial air-drying allows for a more precise control of the drying procedure. It uses hot air to remove moisture evenly from the raw materials placed in tray dryers.
Products include: Ashwagandha Powder (organic), Brown Rice Sprouted Protein Powder (organic), Kale Powder (organic), Kelp Powder (organic), Lucuma Powder (organic), Mangosteen Pericarp Powder, Mangosteen Super ORAC Powder, Spinach Powder (organic), and Yacon Root Powder (organic).
Convection Drying
A process using the application of hot air which speeds up the drying process and carries away the vapor as humidity.
Products include: Banana Juice Powder (organic), Nopal Powder (organic)
Vacuum Drying
A process used to dry materials by evaporation in a vacuum chamber at a relatively high pressure. The removal of air around the food causes rapid evaporation of water. The transfer of heat is generally done by conduction, and sometimes by radiation.
Products include: Bee Pollen Powder
NP Nutra® has been supplying the highest quality nutraceutical ingredients and botanical extracts to the dietary supplement, functional food, beverage and cosmetic industries for almost 20 years. With manufacturing partners in Brazil, Peru, India, China, Chile, Indonesia and Thailand, NP Nutra® can supply you with the world’s most sought-after raw materials.
References:
http://www.ift.org
http://school.discovery.com/foodscience>
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeze-drying
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spray_drying
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_drying
