Food Emulsifiers Market: Pros and Cons
Food Emulsifiers Market: Pros and Cons
Blog Article
Naturally, water and oil cannot mix by themselves, which can be a problem in the food manufacturing process that requires both of the elements to combine. However, as food technology advances, there is something that can help these agents to mix, which are food emulsifiers.
This emulsifier is increasingly important in food manufacturing, especially for products such as ice creams, mayonnaise, margarine, peanut butters, among others. It can occur naturally or made artificially, however most of emulsifiers we find today can come naturally from hydrocolloids, which involve animals, aquatic, and plants-based sources.
Emulsifiers are increasingly important as without them, we might have to go through fat layers before reaching the water-based flavors of yogurt, which can be pretty irritating. In addition, it can help in ensuring a smooth flavor and texture of foods.
Many food manufacturing companies are increasingly relying on emulsifiers to improve their product quality. Therefore, there has been a growing demand for food emulsifiers across the globe. According to a prominent market research firm, GMI Research, a global food emulsifiers market size achieved USD 3.6 billion in 2022 and would touch USD 5.2 billion in 2030. This rapid development is due to the rising need for convenience food and beverages products as well as the growing adoption of emulsifiers in many food manufacturing processes.
What are the Types?
There are several types that are commonly used in the production of foods.
- Guar gum
This type can be helpful in emulsifying, stabilizing, and thickening various ingredients in food products. This can also work during the manufacturing process which requires extreme cold temperatures. Guar gum can offer and sustain a smooth texture in dairy and plant-based milk products. - Gellan gum
This type of emulsifier can be produced naturally by microorganism. It is widely used to be a gelling agent that can produce fluid gels for a wide array of dairy and soy-based products. It can work to stabilize, thicken, and bind elements while also helping in stabilizing water-based gels like in drinking jellies and other kind of desserts. - Carrageenan
This emulsifier comes from red seaweed and aids in thickening foods while providing them with a consistency that is like a gel. The applications include dairy products and their other alternatives like plant-based milks. It binds with proteins while stabilizing the liquid elements. In addition, processed meats can contain this emulsifier as well. - Soy lecithin
Even though it is one of the types that is most common, as its name suggests it comes from soybeans. Therefore, it can be genetically modified and even sometimes it can be hard to digest. Furthermore, it also has the potential to trigger allergic reactions. - Sunflower lecithin
If you are looking for more vegan and non-allergenic sources, you can go with this type. Works as an alternative to both soy and egg lecithin, this is a non-GMO emulsifier which however needs a more delicate extraction process.
The Benefits
Emulsifiers are increasingly popular owing to the many benefits that they offer.
- Improve the food’s appearance and taste
Emulsifiers can help to improve both the taste of the food and how it looks. As it aids in mixing the agents contained in the food, it can make the colors of the products become more uniform and visually pleasing. In addition, it can also improve the taste and enhance the eating experience for the customers. - Increase volume and thickness
This element can also help in increasing the volume and thickness of the products. In addition, it can also help in improving the food’s texture. For instance, in ice cream products emulsifiers can minimize its stickiness and ensure that every spoonful of ice cream is not overly chewy. - Longer life span
Products that are processed with food emulsifiers can also get the benefit of longer life span, as they can help in making the storage duration of various products become longer by sustaining their freshness and ensuring their quality. - Good for health and skin
Apart from their main functions, emulsifiers also have benefits for our health. It offers probiotics that are good for the gut while also helping you to feel full much longer as they have fiber. Therefore, emulsifiers are widely used in making products such as yogurt. It can also moisturize the skin, especially in dry skin and reduce irritation, thus we can find it in skincare products. - Helps in absorbing nutrient
Some types of emulsifiers can help the body to absorb nutrients such as lecithin that can contribute to the absorption of vitamin A, K, D, among others.
The Side Effects
Despite its many functions and benefits, the food emulsifiers market also has limitations and side effects. Even though it is generally safe, if you consume too many food emulsifiers, it can lead to many digestive problems like diarrhea or nausea. However, you can feel relieved because most products only use emulsifiers in small quantities even though you still have to maintain the intake when consuming foods that involve emulsifiers. Report this page