Clean labels have become the new rule and strategic standard in the food industry. Today’s consumers demand foods made with natural, simple ingredients that are familiar to them. This has prompted manufacturers to reformulate their products and develop proposals aligned with this trend, and thus position foods effectively in the eyes of the consumer. However, today it is not enough to offer attractive, safe and natural products; ingredients that provide additional health benefits and offer added value from a nutritional and functional point of view are also required.
In this context, concentrated grape juice represents a versatile ingredient that combines clean label with added value in a single raw material. Below we analyze how concentrated must brings these advantages to food and beverage formulations today.
- Clean label and functional foods: two big food trends
- Why is grape juice concentrate a clean label product?
- Functional health benefits of grape juice concentrate
- Applications of grape juice concentrate as a functional and clean label ingredient
- JULIÁN SOLER: commitment to sustainability, quality and innovation
Clean label and functional foods: two big food trends
The clean label movement is a constantly evolving concept, always aligned with the growing demands of society in search of healthier food. It does not really have a legal definition, because it is a trend that has emerged as a strategic and necessary response from the industry and consumers. Overall, however, a clean label formulation is characterized by a shorter and simpler list of ingredients, with components that can be easily recognized, that do not contain any artificial additives, that are allergen-free and free of environmental contaminants. Consumers want to know where those components come from and prefer minimal processing. So the clean label approach basically involves using as few ingredients as possible in the creation of a product, ensuring the high purity of those ingredients, guaranteeing their organic origin, and providing full transparency to the consumer.
At the same time, functional foods have become an established category. These are products that are formulated to offer a specific beneficial effect on the body’s health, beyond traditional nutrition. Vitamins, antioxidants, probiotics and other bioactive ingredients are some of the elements that are strategically incorporated into food matrices to improve health or prevent disease. For example, integrating a component rich in resveratrol can help improve cardiovascular functions.
How does all this translate into practice? Both trends converge to drive manufacturing companies to seek natural, organically sourced raw materials that add value to the product. Moreover, the clean label approach goes beyond the simple physical labeling of the product; it is a comprehensive commitment that requires ensuring traceability throughout the supply chain. In this context, concentrated grape juice has always been positioned as a versatile ingredient in food and beverage formulation. Why? Because it meets today’s requirements in terms of functionality and clean labeling.
Why is grape juice concentrate a clean label product?
In the following pages, we take a closer look at the aspects that make grape must concentrate a benchmark for clean label with added value.
- 100% natural composition. Grape concentrate is essentially the juice of the fruit from which ⅔ of the water has been extracted by a vacuum evaporation process. No sugars, acids or preservatives are added. It is a concentrate that preserves the soluble components of the grape:
- Natural sugars: only glucose and fructose in equal proportions, no sucrose.
- Phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids from grape seeds and skins.
- Natural pigments and other solids. In concentrated red grape must, anthocyanins (pigments) provide the color. It also contains dissolved mineral salts, such as potassium and magnesium.
- Natural aromatic compounds from grapes
- Organic acids, such as malic and tartaric acid, which provide stable acidity to the grapes.
- Processing with minimum intervention. The concentration process is carried out through a vacuum evaporation method, at low and controlled pressures and temperatures, reducing the degradation of sensitive compounds. This allows the concentrated must to retain all the nutrients and organoleptic properties of the grape. In addition, the concentrate production process does not include steps that require external acidulants or emulsifiers.
- Technofunctionality. This refers to the food properties of an ingredient that may affect its utilization, excluding its nutritional profile. Grape must concentrate has technofunctional properties that are highly valued in the formulation of clean label products.
- Moisture. The natural sugars in grape concentrate can aid moisture retention in baked goods, improving their texture. Grape juice concentrate (along with rice syrup) is even one of the ingredients in clean label and vegan food moisturizers, which reduce the need for sorbitol or other additives.
- Preservation. The natural sugars in the concentrated must also help to preserve food and beverages for longer. In addition, polyphenols contribute to the antioxidant stability of the product.
- Traceability and sustainability. Clean labeling also implies social, environmental and ethical responsibility throughout the value chain. For this reason, at JULIÁN SOLER we integrate these principles in the cultivation of grapes and in the production of our concentrated red and white grape must, by means of:
- Organic, sustainable and regenerative viticulture. We avoid the use of synthetic chemicals in the cultivation of our grapes. In addition, we optimize the use of natural resources and prioritize the protection of biodiversity, the reduction of the water footprint in the vineyard and the relationship with local workers and producers.
- Total traceability, which guarantees the control of each lot, from the vineyard, through the reception, concentration and packaging processes, to shipping and delivery to our customers. This allows us to provide food safety, transparency and confidence to our industrial partners.
Functional health benefits of grape juice concentrate
Grape juice concentrate has a phytochemical and nutritional profile that makes it an ingredient with potent biological effects. Not only is it used as a natural sweetening, coloring or flavoring agent, it also contains a wide range of polyphenols (mainly flavonoids and resveratrol), along with vitamins C, K, E and A and minerals (potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorus), which act synergistically to enhance and generate key physiological processes.
| What are the main functional benefits of grape juice concentrate? | |
| Energy supply | Grape concentrate contains glucose and fructose, thus serving as a source of carbohydrates to maintain energy during training and improve performance and physical endurance. |
| Reduction of oxidative stress | Grape juice concentrate is rich in antioxidant compounds, such as resveratrol, flavonols and anthocyanins, which act by neutralizing radicals to prevent cell damage, slow aging and prevent the appearance of cancer cells. |
| Cardiovascular health | Flavonoids may act as artery relaxants. While the polyphenols in grape concentrate are associated with a lower risk of heart disease, they also protect against the development of atherosclerosis (accumulation of cholesterol and fat in the walls of the arteries). |
| Anti-aging properties | Containing revesratrol, malic acid and vitamin C, the concentrated must can help prevent skin cell degradation. |
| Regulation of the intestinal microbiota | Grape juice contains polyphenols that may act as probiotic compounds, to balance the intestinal microbiota, protect the gut and prevent inflammation and colon cancer. |
Applications of grape juice concentrate as a functional and clean label ingredient
The versatility of grape must concentrate allows its incorporation into various food matrices to improve sensory attributes such as texture, color and flavor, and to provide bioactive compounds that contribute to the formulation of functional foods. For example:
Baby food
Grape must concentrate is a clean label and functional ingredient that makes it possible to formulate nutritious, beneficial and, at the same time, attractive baby food and beverages. It is an alternative to naturally sweeten juices, porridges and purees, making it possible to reduce or eliminate added sugars in recipes. In addition, the must provides essential minerals and a profile rich in phenolic compounds, which enriches the nutritional profile of the product and reinforces its ability to protect the child against oxidative stress.
Healthy snacks
Grape concentrate is used to add natural sweetness to cereal bars and whole-grain crackers. At the same time, the natural sugars in grape juice provide a quick source of energy, making these products nutritious and functional options to consume throughout the day. In addition, the functional quality of these snacks is enhanced by the antioxidants provided by the grape juice.
Bebidas naturales
Grape juice concentrate is also used in the formulation of beverages that help improve the immune system, digestive health and physical performance, such as energy (isotonic) drinks and fortified fruit, vegetable or vegetable juices. For example, must concentrate provides sports drinks with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are necessary for physical replenishment of the body during physical training.
JULIÁN SOLER: commitment to sustainability, quality and innovation
We are pioneers in the production and export of SO2 Free concentrated must, a 100% virgin grape juice, with no preservatives, allergens or additives. It is an ideal natural ingredient for the formulation of natural and healthy products for children, athletes, pregnant women and all target audiences with high nutritional requirements. In addition, we are FSA Farm Sustainability Assessment certified, which validates our commitment to sustainable production and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. Our white or red grape juice concentrate provides that functional and clean label plus in natural and high value-added products. Request a sample. We are your Global Grape Solution Supplier, we go where you need it… to any of the 5 continents.
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