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Citrus Fiber In the News

Citri-Fi Citrus fiber is an efficient food ingredient
June 11, 2025
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Efficient Food Ingredient – Citrus Fiber

Making food systems more efficient is an on-going process which includes finding efficient food ingredients that are multi-functional, nutrient dense, cost effective, easy to source, and sustainable. Citri-Fi® citrus fiber is one example of a food ingredient that checks all the boxes. Its water holding and emulsification properties and low usage levels provide cost savings in certain food applications.

If you are a movie buff, you will know that some screenwriters portray futuristic concepts that come true about 95% of the time. For instance, those who are sci-fi enthusiasts can recall movies like Blade Runner 2049 and The Island which share ideologies about the food system and nutrition. In Blade Runner, Earth turned into a state of environmental disaster. Humanity procured its only food source from nematodes (worms) which contained high levels of protein. Though gruesome to watch, this efficient food sourcing was not too different from today’s insect farming. This efficient food ingredient, insects, are a staple in many countries around the world.

And in the movie The Island, Ewan McGregor finds himself born in a colony of people held in a compound. A computer print-out dictated his daily food choices every morning to maintain his perfect health. Little did he know, his community thrived in pristine health because they were clones of wealthy people. McGregor and the other’s organs and body parts were surrogates in case their owners needed a transplant. The fascinating part was the suggested customized nutrition in the movie mirrored present day's nutrition goals.

Both examples point to human being’s pursuit of efficiency whether it is from sustainable protein sources to customized nutrition. Because of this progressive trend, our food system continues to strive for more efficient food ingredients that are sustainable and healthy.

Defining Efficient Food Ingredients

What does efficient mean when referring to food ingredients? According to Merriam-Webster (2025), efficient means “capable of producing desired results with little or no waste (as of time or materials)”. If we apply that meaning to food ingredients, it implies producing little or no waste in the production, sourcing, handling, and usage of a food ingredient. If we take it a step further and either use internet searches or AI generators to pump information, we get a more encompassing definition for an efficient food ingredient.

An efficient food ingredient includes various factors such as multi-functionality or multi-purpose, nutrient density, cost effectiveness, easy sourcing, long shelf-life and sustainability.  All of these aspects apply to all stages of creating a food ingredient including its afterlife in a finished food product.

Two for the Price of One: Multifunctional Ingredients

Many food products use multiple hydrocolloids for different functionalities. It is no wonder that some of the food ingredient declarations resemble a lengthy novel. For example, a food product may contain multiple texturizing and stabilizing ingredients. Certain hydrocolloids like starches and plant-based fibers are used to hold water while emulsifiers are used to bind oil and water. And then throw in a suspension agent, typically a food gum, to prevent settling.

Citri-Fi citrus fiber which is produced from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry uses a process that is free from chemical modifications. This process opens up the fiber to provide multiple contact points for water and oil binding. Citri-Fi can hold up to 9-10 times its weight in water and three times its weight in oil. As a result, this dual functionality – water holding and emulsification properties – can replace several ingredients in a food formulation to shrink food ingredient lists.

In addition, Citri-Fi can provide this dual functionality at a fraction of the usage level (<1%) compared to other ingredients. For example, some ingredients like modified food starches work best at 3-4% usage. And depending on the food application, formulators may need to overuse the starch to get the full functionality due to limited food processing tolerance (e.g. low pH, high shear, high heat, etc.). Unlike those ingredients, Citri-Fi citrus fiber’s high stability in most food processing conditions fosters a low usage level making it an efficient food ingredient.

Nutrient Dense Ingredients

When formulating foods, many ingredients’ sole purpose is to provide stability and/or improve texture. Nutrition falls lower on the list of success criteria. However, an efficient food ingredient will provide both functionality and nutrition. Some food gums qualify as dietary fiber. And plant-derived fibers register as dietary fibers. However, most starches modified to hold water or emulsify do not contribute dietary fiber. Emulsifiers are also created for one specific functionality – emulsification.

Citri-Fi citrus fiber qualifies as a dietary fiber under the FDA. It contains about 80% total dietary fiber where half is insoluble and half is soluble fiber. Because of this, Citri-Fi contributes fiber to the finished food product’s nutritional panel. However, since Citri-Fi is used at low usage levels, it typically requires other dietary fibers to be used to make fiber claims.

Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which resonate well in the clean label markets. Citri-Fi’s labeling carries an innate health halo that consumers understand. On the other hand, some food gums sound suspect while modified food starches implies chemical use.

Cost Savings Using Efficient Food Ingredients    

Another defining moment for an efficient food ingredient is the cost savings they provide. Although there is a tendency to judge a food ingredient’s value based on the price per pound or kilogram, efficient food ingredients offer a cost-in-use savings. But what does that mean?

When product developers use ingredients for textural or stability, those ingredients may also provide efficiencies in food systems such as shorter processing times or lower temperatures. For instance, Citri-Fi is functional in all temperatures. Alternatively, certain food gums and starches require specific temperatures or conditions to activate. Efficient food ingredients like Citri-Fi can be used to reduce the reliance of more expensive ingredients in a formulation. For example, Citri-Fi can reduce egg and/or oil content, animal meat in processed meats and pricey vegetable or fruit pulp while still maintaining a high-quality product.

Food Ingredient Sourcing Availability

Another feature of an efficient food ingredient is the availability. Citri-Fi citrus fiber is sourced from multiple citrus juice producers and manufactured in the U.S.A. Many other food ingredients originate from unstable geopolitical regions or from areas with fickle climates. Due to this, limited ingredient availability may not only pose a risk but also the escalating price, due to supply and demand, may burden the buyer.

Sustainable & Upcycled – Citrus Fiber Fame

In addition to all the above, efficient food ingredients typically have a sustainable story to tell. As previously mentioned, Citri-Fi is derived from byproduct of the citrus juicing process. The peel which would have been discarded to a lower-valued use (like animal feed) is reclaimed by Fiberstar and converted into a natural plant-derived fiber used to improve the texture, stability and nutrition of a variety of foods and beverages. Organic citrus fiber, Citri-Fi 400, is now available.

Citri-Fi’s efficiency comes in the form of multi-functionality, clean labeling, nutrient density, cost savings, availability and sustainability. Food formulations benefit in using this citrus fiber not only to improve food products labeling and quality, but also, to tell a story about how one little ingredient can check numerous boxes in the food world.

Hopefully, sci-fi screenwriters will continue to muse what our food systems will look like in the distant future. If our tendencies are to continue down the path of efficiency, upcycled food ingredients like citrus fiber definitely have a role. Move over Leonard Nimoy (Spock), we have a new actor (citrus fiber) that Scotty can beam up.

For more information about Citri-Fi and how it can improve your food formulation efficiency, please contact us.

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Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Water Holding, Natural Emulsifier, Upcycled, Sustainable, Gelling Properties
July 10, 2024
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Citrus Fiber Powder: Top FAQ in 2024

Citrus fiber is a natural food ingredient used to improve nutrition, texture and stability of food and beverages. Despite its global use and increased awareness, the food industry continues to ask questions about this ingredient due to its sustainable halo. A recent keyword analysis revealed a few of the top-line questions involving citrus fiber's benefits, its natural status and gluten-free positioning.

Surprise! The Internet is exploding with information about the newest ingredient on the block -- citrus fiber.  Also known as, citrus fibre, orange fiber, orange fruit fiber, citrus fiber powder, fibre de citrus, citrus fruit extract, the list goes on. For decades, the food and beverage industry created products with a variety of ingredients ranging from commodity (e.g. flour, sugar, salt) to specialty (e.g. pectin, carrageenan, gellan gum and other hydrocolloids). But thanks to sourcing efficiencies, new processing technology and evolving consumer trends, food ingredients like citrus fiber are abundantly available to improve the nutrition, texture and stability of food products.

Despite its global use and increased awareness, the market continues to probe for more information. In the 2024 recent keyword analysis, several questions surfaced. Below lists the top five questions pertaining to citrus fiber. Let’s take a moment to expand on the topic further.

  1. What is citrus fiber powder and why use it?

Citrus fiber is a food ingredient produced from citrus fruit such as lemons, limes and oranges. However, not all citrus fibers are created the same. Citrus fiber differs by botanical source, processing conditions and composition. Fiberstar, Inc., a citrus fiber supplier, uses the byproduct from the citrus juicing industry to make a sustainable and upcycled fiber called Citri-Fi®. The composition of insoluble and soluble fiber, in the form of native intact pectin, provides the high water holding and emulsification properties which benefit a variety of food and beverages.

Other similar ingredients tend to be byproduct of the pectin extraction process which typically uses chemicals (usually acid) and solvents. Because of this, these citrus fibers likely lose some of its functionality causing some producers to add pectin back into the citrus fiber mix to increase its advantage.

Citri-Fi citrus fiber usage rate ranges from 0.5% to 1.0% in a variety of foods including:

  • Baking: moisture retention, improved freshness over time, replacement of eggs
  • Gluten-free bakery: moisture retention, emulsifier, improves freshness over time
  • Beverages: improved mouthfeel, stabilizer, pulp enhancer
  • Dairy: syneresis control, stabilizer, creamy mouthfeel
  • Dairy alternatives: creamy mouthfeel, stabilizer, syneresis control, gellan gum replacement
  • Dressing & sauces: emulsification, improved texture, stability
  • Dry plating: converting liquids to flowable powders
  • Meat substitutes: emulsification, binding, firmness, meat-like texture
  • Processed meats: improved yields, succulence, phosphate replacement
  • Pet foods: emulsifier, stabilizer, texturizing

  1. What are the benefits of using citrus fiber powder?

Citri-Fi citrus fiber provides both water holding and emulsification properties. Additionally, it gels due to its high level of intact native pectin. These functionalities mirror other hydrocolloids in the market. As a result, this upcycled food ingredient can be used to improve nutrition, texture, stability and labeling of food and beverages. Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which resonate well in the natural and clean label markets.

Citrus fiber has no E-number which is key in regions like Europe. Many food formulators avoid using E-number ingredients. Citri-Fi is also non-allergenic and gluten-free making it an ideal ingredient to use in gluten-free formulating. This natural citrus fiber is non-GMO project certified. And the Citri-Fi 400 line is USDA certified organic which makes it a one-of-a-kind in the market.

Because this citrus fiber is produced from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry, it is considered upcycled, sustainable and eco-friendly. And like its name infers, this ingredient does contribute dietary fiber (>80%).

  1. Is citrus fiber an ultra-processed food (UPF)?

Ultra-processed foods or UPFs entered the limelight recently due to their health implications. These types of industrial made foods typically use ingredients that have been synthesized in laboratories, derived from food components or extracted from foods. Though citrus fiber is extracted from citrus fruit, it is not considered an ultra-processed food.

Since citrus fiber is not a finished product, consumers do not eat it by itself. On the other hand, UPFs are finished food products consumed by the general population. UPFs typically incorporate ingredients like saturated or hydrogenated fats, salt, refined sugars or flours and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

  1. Is citrus fiber a food additive?

The United States, Europe and other countries' governing bodies manage their own definitions of food additives. Citrus fiber does not qualify as a food additive in the U.S. or Europe. It is a considered an ingredient in both the US and Europe which lands out of the scope of the food additive list. Because of this, citrus fiber has no E-number in Europe which makes it an ideal natural food ingredient to use to benefit food and beverages like baked goods, juices, snacks, sauces, meat substitutes, plant-based beverages, dairy-free cheeses and more.

  1. Is citrus fiber gluten-free?

Gluten-free requires testing and monitoring. Naturally, citrus fiber contains no gluten.  However, some citrus fibers are processed using equipment that may have been contaminated from gluten-containing foods. Therefore, it is important for the citrus fiber suppliers to guarantee that their citrus fiber is gluten-free. Citri-Fi citrus fiber falls under the threshold. As a result, it is safe for gluten-free formulator to use in food products.

 

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Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Water Holding, Natural Emulsifier, Upcycled, Sustainable, Gelling Properties - Sustainability - Eco-friendly - Upcycled
November 8, 2023
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Top 5 Facts about Citri-Fi® Upcycled Citrus Fiber

For the past 20 years, Fiberstar has been the original pioneer of upcycled citrus fibers which originate from the citrus juicing industry. This superior citrus fiber provides water holding, emulsification and added viscosity which are not equal to other citrus fibers on the market. Citri-Fi® is produced using a clean process free from chemical modifications which supports a clean label. Not only does this citrus fiber contribute dietary fiber, but it also provides multiple functionalities that improve the stability, texture and mouthfeel of a variety of food and beverages.

The True Citrus Fiber Pioneers – Fiberstar, Inc.

The Fiberstar team takes pride in being the upcycling citrus fiber forerunners. For over 20 years, Fiberstar’s expertise revolved around creating value-added products from plant-based fibers, specifically citrus-based fibers. This technology evolved years before other food ingredient companies jumped on the bandwagon after noticing the value that citrus fiber brings to the food and beverage market.

The 20-year mastery in citrus fiber technology and dedicated passion built a solid foundation for converting side streams into value-added ingredients. Because of this, Fiberstar produced a line of citrus fibers that fit today’s paradigm – clean label, fiber enhancement, sustainability and cost savings. For instance, Citri-Fi citrus fiber supports a clean label and uses a clean process. The process preserves the fibrous content which contributes fiber to food and beverages. As a result, citrus fiber provides water holding and emulsification which aids in extending pricey foods like tomato paste, egg and animal meats to create cost savings.

After witnessing the value of citrus fiber when the clean label and upcycled trends surfaced, other ingredient suppliers followed suit by adding a citrus fiber to their portfolios. In the end, the industry recognizes Fiberstar as one of the first to put citrus fiber on the map in the food ingredient world.

Citrus Fibers are not Created Equal

Today, the market offers several citrus fibers. However, not all citrus fibers are created the same. Citri-Fi originates from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. This upcycled citrus fiber’s highly efficient process is free of chemical modifications and solvents which keeps native pectin intact how Mother Nature intended. Thus, the intact pectin creates the superior functionality – water holding and emulsification. And the neutral flavor allows formulations to use higher levels if needed without flavor impact.

Other citrus fiber suppliers pull from their own pectin extraction which is subjected to solvents and potentially other chemicals. In other words, this process is not free of chemical modifications. The pectin is typically stripped in these processes leaving behind a residual amount which limits its functionality. This negatively affects the citrus fiber’s water holding capacity and emulsification power. Depending on the residual pectin present, some suppliers add pectin back to restore the full functionality which is an added step in the process. Additionally, other processes may not minimize the bitter notes that typically accompany citrus peel. As a result, these citrus fibers are limited to non-sensitive food applications.

Two Decades of Upcycling: Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber

Fiberstar’s technology and business started by creating and selling an upcycled citrus fiber over 20 years ago. This took place years before upcycled or sustainability became center stage topics. Though upcycling began life as a way to recoup dollars from the business decades ago, it was not until now when upcycling entered the limelight. This market asking for a circular economy with minimal environmental impact or zero waste spearheaded this. Fiberstar's upcycling model occurred before its time. And because of this, the company's expertise in upcycling spurred several product launches thru the years solving the market’s toughest formulation challenges. These ranged from oil, fat and egg reduction, plant-based meat textures, consumer friendly labeling and tomato paste extension.

Clean & Natural: The Process to Labeling

Clean label continues to be a hot topic today. However, clean goes beyond just the labeling. This subjective term also relates to how food is grown, harvested and processed. In the citrus fiber world, this equates to how citrus fiber is procured and re-purposed to benefit the market. As mentioned, Citri-Fi is produced from byproduct of the citrus juicing process. The spent fiber is then refined further by using methods free from chemical modifications and solvents. Other citrus fiber producers capture their citrus fiber from pectin extraction which typically uses solvents and other chemical modifications.

Citri-Fi is truly a clean upcycled citrus fiber from processing to the final product. Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which all resonate well in the natural market. In addition to the clean story, this citrus fiber is non-GMO, allergen-free and contains no E-number. USDA certified organic citrus fiber, Citri-Fi 400, is now available.

Citrus Fiber is Multi-functional and Fiber Enhancing

Because citrus fiber contains the words "fiber", the market assumes that its primary role points to fortifying foods. However, different types of dietary fibers exist in the market. Some fibers fortify foods. And some of these dietary fibers provide prebiotic effects used to improve digestive health. Alternatively, some fibers deliver functional benefits in addition to fiber enrichment. For example, Citri-Fi provides water holding, emulsification and added viscosity.

These multi-functional upcycled citrus fibers, when used less than 1%, improve the stability, texture and nutrition of a variety of food and beverages. For instance, in baked goods Citri-Fi improves moisture retention which enhances the perception of freshness over time. Also, this natural fiber can reduce eggs, oil and/or fat while maintaining the full-fat mouthfeel. In sauces, Citri-Fi creates stability and improves the texture. For example, Citri-Fi extends tomato paste up to 25% while maintaining the natural tomato-like texture. And in plant-based beverages, this upcycled citrus fiber improves the full-body mouthfeel and stability without using other gums and stabilizers. In the end, Citri-Fi is a versatile multi-functional citrus fiber that improves dairy, dressings, processed meats, frozen foods, beverages, dairy alternatives and meat substitutes.

For more information about Citri-Fi citrus fiber or to order a sample please contact us.

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USDA Organic Certified: Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber - 394x294
January 16, 2023
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Fiberstar, Inc. Launches New Organic Citrus Fiber

(River Falls, WI) Fiberstar, Inc., the leader of innovative citrus fibers launched a line of new organic citrus fibers – Citri-Fi® 400 series. These new citrus fibers are in response to the increasing demand for natural, sustainable and organic food ingredients. For instance, market drivers fueling the uptick in demand include a growth in consumer health and wellness initiatives and limited availability of hydrocolloids due to supply chain challenges. And other drivers include increased visibility of sustainable business practices.

“We are thrilled to add these new organic citrus fibers to our portfolio,” says President and CEO of Fiberstar, Inc. John Haen. “This organic product line extension taps into a new market which will garner additional sales growth for Fiberstar.”

Organic Citrus Fiber Benefits

Like the flagship Citri-Fi 100 series, this new Citri-Fi 400 organic series is byproduct of the citrus juicing process. As a result, the fibrous composition consists of insoluble and soluble fiber. The intact native pectin provides water holding and emulsification properties with a pleasant mouthfeel. Because of the dual functionality, at less than 1% usage rate, Citri-Fi 400 improves the texture, stability and nutrition of a variety of food and beverages. For example, these foods include bakery, dairy, processed meats, dressings, sauces and frozen foods in addition to plant-based foods like meat substitutes and dairy alternatives.

Citri-Fi 400 is USDA certified organic and certified as an organic source by the European Union. This upcycled organic citrus fiber series is non-GMO, non-allergenic, gluten-free and has no E-number. Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour.

Learn more by watching the following USDA Certified Organic Citrus Fiber video.

 

About Fiberstar, Inc.: Fiberstar, Inc. www.FiberstarIngredients.com is a privately held innovative biotechnology Company focused on enhancing food performance by manufacturing and marketing value-added, plant-based food ingredients. Its largest brand, Citri-Fi®, is a natural, high performing citrus fiber sustainably produced from citrus fruit. The physical process, which is free from chemical modifications, creates high water holding and clean emulsification properties which benefit meat, dairy, bakery, dressings, sauces, frozen food, beverages, pet food, dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. Citri-Fi is GRAS, non-allergenic, non-GMO Project certified and has no E-number. Headquartered in River Falls, Wisconsin with manufacturing in Florida and Wisconsin, Fiberstar sells products globally in over 65 countries.

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Givaudan and Fiberstar Partnership to sell texurising stabilizers - citrus fiber
February 14, 2022
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Givaudan and Fiberstar enter agreement to expand plant-based texturising ingredients to new markets

Versatile citrus fibre ingredient delivers multi-sensory food experiences across multiple product categories

GENEVA AND RIVER FALLS, WIS. (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Givaudan and US-based company Fiberstar today announced that they have entered into an agreement allowing Givaudan to commercialise and use Fiberstar’s natural, plant-based texturising ingredient Citri-Fi®. The collaboration will support the expansion of Givaudan’s Taste & Wellbeing portfolio while extending Fiberstar’s geographic footprint and research & development opportunities.

The collaboration combines Givaudan’s broad customer reach and leadership in Taste, Sense, Nutrition and Health with Fiberstar’s expertise in the foodstuff texturising market space enabling food manufacturers to better respond to consumer demand in plant-based ingredients for products that combine desirable texture and taste.

Citri-Fi® is a clean label, non-GMO, vegan solution, free of commonly recognised allergens, that improves the texture, taste and stability of a variety of foods ranging from baked goods to meat alternatives. Citri-Fi® is derived from soluble and insoluble orange and lemon fibres through a mechanical process that converts what was once a by-product of the citrus juicing industry into a sustainable, nature-friendly ingredient.

Serge Sabrier, Global Category Director Sense, Givaudan said: “Foodstuff texturisers are an important component in supporting our customers and delivering great food experiences to consumers. We are excited to be partnering with Fiberstar, expanding our Sense Texture offering that today is strong in oat and quillaia. Both oat and citrus are considered superhero ingredients, offering exceptional functionality as natural foodstuff texturizers. Citrus fibre is a winning addition due to its high functionality and high consumer acceptance around the globe.”

John A. Haen, President and CEO of Fiberstar added: “We are enthusiastic about this new commercial agreement. With more than 20 years of experience in the natural texturisers space, we are excited to work with Givaudan to bring clean label texturisers and our extensive applications knowledge to a wider customer-base while also benefiting from Givaudan’s R&D expertise.”

Citri-Fi® can be used across a range of applications, adding body and mouthfeel to dairy and dairy substitutes; improving viscosity and mouthfeel in soups and sauces; enhancing moisture and freshness in bakery goods; and for boosting juiciness and texture in plant-based meat alternatives. In addition to these properties and benefits, Citri-Fi® can also improve a product’s nutritional profile.

In 2022, Givaudan will initially offer Citri-Fi® ingredients in Latin America* and to selected customers in Europe. Outside of these areas, Fiberstar will continue servicing its current customer-base and global distributor network. Givaudan will also use Citri-Fi® in its development work as it co-creates formulations with its customers. In the future, Givaudan intends to offer Citri-Fi® as an ingredient across all markets around the world.

(*with the exception of Chile)

About Givaudan

Givaudan is the global leader in the creation of flavours and fragrances, with its heritage stretching back over 250 years, the Company has a long history of innovating tastes and scents. From a favourite drink to your daily meal, from prestige perfumes to cosmetics and laundry care, its creations inspire emotions and delight millions of consumers the world over. The Company is committed to driving purpose-led, long-term growth while leading the way to improve happiness and health for people and nature. In the fiscal year 2020, the Company employed almost 16,000 people worldwide and achieved sales of CHF 6.3 billion and a free cash flow of 12.8% of sales. Let’s imagine together on http://www.givaudan.com.

About Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing

Powered by innovation and creativity, Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing aims to shape the future of food by becoming the co-creation partner of choice to its customers. Built on its global leadership position in flavours and taste, the Company goes beyond to create food experiences that do good and feel good, for body, mind and planet. With an expanded portfolio of products across flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions and a deep knowledge of the food ecosystem, Givaudan’s passion is to collaborate with customers and partners to develop game changing innovations in food and beverage. Let’s imagine together the future of food. Learn more at http://www.givaudan.com/taste-wellbeing.

About Fiberstar

Fiberstar, Inc. http://www.FiberstarIngredients.com is a privately held innovative biotechnology Company focused on enhancing food performance by manufacturing and marketing value-added, plant based food ingredients. Its largest brand, Citri-Fi, is a natural, highly functional citrus fiber sustainably produced. The physical patented process creates the high water holding and clean label emulsification properties. Citri-Fi is GRAS, non-allergenic, non-GMO and has no E-number. This natural fiber line benefits meat, dairy, bakery, dressings, sauces, frozen food, beverages, plant based foods and pet food through textural improvements, nutritional enhancements and/or cost savings. Headquartered in River Falls, Wisconsin with manufacturing in Florida and Wisconsin, Fiberstar sells products globally in over 65 countries.

For further information, please contact:

Eve Landen, Media Manager, Taste & Wellbeing, Givaudan
T +33 4 90 23 70 20
E Eve.Landen@givaudan.com

Jennifer Stephens, VP of Marketing, Fiberstar
T +1 303 513 4021
E J.Stephens@fiberstar.net

Jamie Till, Instinctif Partners
T +44 7581 480 083
E Jamie.till@instinctif.com

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Citrus fiber - stabilizer - emulsifier - texturizer
January 20, 2022
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Citrus Fiber: Emulsifier, Stabilizer & Texturizer

In 2021, top read Fiberstar blogs indicated that individuals sought out food ingredients with “natural” functionalities. Today, there still remains a gap in the market between high functionality and natural/clean label. Yet, Citri-Fi® citrus fills this gap. These top read blogs highlighted Citri-Fi as a citrus fiber emulsifier, stabilizer and texturizer at the same time being natural! Because of this, food developers can create high quality clean label products.

Instead of rattling off the Top 5 read Fiberstar blogs in 2021, we will focus on their common hot topics. These top read blogs highlighted Citri-Fi citrus fiber’s ability to emulsify, stabilize and texturize a variety of food products. This might set eyes rolling since there are many food ingredients in the market claiming to do the same. However, this citrus fiber performs these functions “naturally” which sets itself apart from the others. Currently, natural emulsifiers are a rare find. On the other hand, food ingredients like Citri-Fi are available as citrus fiber emulsifiers.

Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Natural Emulsifier

Citri-Fi's process is free from chemical modifications unlike other ingredients in the market. For instance, the insoluble and soluble fiber content contains native intact pectin. This high pectin content gives Citri-Fi the muscle to emulsify and stabilize foods like dairy, beverages, dressings, dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. As a result, developers create foods with more natural textures and mouthfeel.

For instance, Citri-Fi binds oil and water to create the succulent texture in meat substitutes. The 100 series in conjunction with the TX line makes meat-like texture and juiciness. And when this natural emulsifier and texturizer is used with plant proteins like canola protein, potato protein and/or pea protein, meat substitutes can be created free of methylcellulose.

Natural Water Holding Food Ingredient

The market is saturated with water holding ingredients such as gums, alginates, starches and plant fibers. However, Citri-Fi’s fiber composition not only binds high levels of water, but does this “naturally” at low usage levels (<1%). Many other ingredients need to be chemically modified to perform the same. Or if they are natural, they raise consumer’s eyebrows when listed on the food label.

Because of this high water holding, Citri-Fi improves freshness of baked goods, reduces syneresis in dairy foods and creates more natural textures in sauces. And one other benefit that places it on a high pedestal versus others is that Citri-Fi improves freeze/thaw stability of frozen foods. For example, this natural ingredient minimizes water migration during the freeze/thaw cycles. Ice cream and frozen dairy alternatives create less ice crystals which preserves its creamy mouthfeel. And frozen meals refrain from turning into a mosh pit of mash.

Natural Food Texturizer

Fiberstar recently launched Citri-Fi TX which creates meat-like texture in plant based meats and animal meat products. Though there is a plethora of plant-based textured proteins on the market, Citri-Fi TX differs. Most texturized proteins start their life as part of a plant and then further processed. Citri-Fi TX citrus fiber exists in a larger granular form - minimally processed. And because it is derived from citrus fruit, it is non-allergenic unlike soy and wheat. Many texturized proteins serve as a base in vegan meats at high usage levels. On the other hand, Citri-Fi TX usage level ranges 1-4% to enhance the texture.

About Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi citrus fiber is allergen-free and gluten-free. This natural food ingredient has no E-number. And the 100 series including TX is non-GMO project certified. Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which all resonate well in the natural and clean label markets. Citri-Fi is a citrus fiber emulsifier, stabilizer and texturizer. To learn more about Citri-Fi’s natural functionalities, please contact us.

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Plant-based Meats, Meat Alternatives & Plant-based Foods: Citri-Fi Replaces Methylcellulose, Improves Juiciness, Firm Texture and Meat-like Texture
January 13, 2022
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Top 5 Fiberstar Videos Watched in 2021

The top 5 most watched Fiberstar videos in 2021 revolved around Citri-Fi® citrus fiber as a plant based meat ingredient and its natural emulsification properties. Both topics are trending as the market is looking for cleaner food ingredients not only for vegan meats but also for other foods such as beverages, dairy, sauces and dressings.

Every year, Fiberstar publishes the top 5 watched videos. And it is no surprise that in 2021, the top videos involved plant based meat ingredients. In addition, the other top watched topic covered Citri-Fi citrus fiber’s emulsification properties. Although Citri-Fi's emulsification properties help create succulent vegan meat textures, this emulsification also benefits other food products such as beverages, dairy, sauces and dressings.

For the past few years, Fiberstar built a toolbox of solution sets to help product developers create methylcellulose-free meat alternatives. Unfortunately, these is no “one size fits all” when it comes to this difficult feat. Because of this, Fiberstar created a string of videos exemplifying these solutions. Some videos are available on our website.  However, the newer demonstration videos using canola, potato and/or pea protein are available by contacting Fiberstar directly.

1. Methylcellulose Replacement in Meat Alternatives 

One solution available for product developers is to use alginate to create emulsion gels that bind oil and water which help water release over time when cooking vegetarian meats. As a result of this, products are succulent and juicy. This video demonstration shows how to create emulsion gels.

2.  Citri-Fi in Vegetarian Meat Products

This tutorial discusses Citri-Fi citrus fiber’s water holding and emulsification properties which are key plant based ingredient functionalities. Citri-Fi enhances vegan meats containing methylcellulose. At the same time, making methylcellulose-free vegetarian meat products is possible when this citrus fiber is used with wheat gluten.

3.  Citri-Fi Natural Citrus Fiber Emulsification Demonstration

Though there are several citrus fibers available on the market now, Citri-Fi continues to be the highest functioning citrus fiber due to its high intact pectin content. For instance, Citri-Fi’s emulsification properties tend to outperform other ingredients in the market. As a result, food products are stable a lower usage levels which equates to cost-in-use advantages. And this plant based meat ingredient’s emulsification is ideal for creating succulence in meat substitutes. This demonstration shows how Citri-Fi binds the oil and water to form an emulsion.

4.  Creating Emulsions with 10% Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi citrus fiber’s typical usage level ranges between 0.2% to 1.0%. However, to demonstrate the full effect of the emulsion, Fiberstar shared a video using higher levels of citrus fiber. Imagine the same effect in your food or beverage but at lower usage levels.

5.  How to Make Meat Alternatives using Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber

The Citri-Fi 100 series provides the water holding and emulsification to help create plant based meats with succulent and juice texture. Recently, Fiberstar launched the next generation Citri-Fi TX which gives vegan meats the meat-like texture and appearance. This video demonstrates how to use both of these plant based meat ingredients to create high quality meat substitutes.

Although these videos ranked the top 5, the video library contains many other videos. For instance, categories range from Citri-Fi functionalities to Citri-Fi use in specific food and beverages. Please check out the various on demand videos available in the Fiberstar Video Library.

Additional Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Information

Citri-Fi citrus fiber is non-GMO, allergen-free and gluten-free. This natural food ingredient has no E-number. And the 100 series is non-GMO project certified. Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which all resonate well in the natural markets. To learn more about Fiberstar’s toolbox of solutions, please contact us.

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New Food Ingredients Distributor partnership
September 15, 2021
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Fiberstar, Inc. Partners with New Food Ingredient Distributors

Fiberstar, Inc. partners up with two new food ingredient distributors to further strengthen its market penetration in the U.S. Accurate Ingredients and Gillco Ingredients join Fiberstar’s global distributor network by offering complimentary portfolios of ingredients, technically sound sales teams and highly responsive customer service.

Fiberstar, Inc. sells Citri-Fi® citrus fiber globally using a robust distributor network. To further penetrate the food ingredient marketplace, the company added two new distributors to their sales network – Accurate Ingredients and Gillco Ingredients. Both companies come with seasoned technical service in addition to a complimentary portfolio of food ingredients.

“The market is demanding natural, clean and functional ingredients like Citri-Fi citrus fiber,” says President and CEO, John Haen. “Because of this, it was time to partner up with distributors that not only focus on natural offerings, but also, provide customers with technical knowledge about each food ingredient’s functionality when formulating food and beverages.”

Accurate Ingredients offers extensive food ingredient sales, marketing and distribution resources serving the U.S. market. For instance, their portfolio of specialized ingredients,  experienced sales team and robust customer service provide customers a top-of-the-line experience. As a result, customers can rely on their trained experts to source and recommend ingredients based on functionality and cost.

Gillco Ingredients prides itself on partnering with some of the most reputable and innovative food ingredient manufacturers which offer a line of healthy, natural and functional ingredients. Its technically trained sales force understand each ingredient’s functionality allowing them to help speed up their customers’ product development efforts. In addition to the savvy technical team and extensive portfolio, they offer well integrated and highly skilled customer service.

Citri-Fi is ideal for both portfolios. For example, this citrus fiber line provides high water holding, emulsification and/or texture to variety of food products. This natural food ingredient is Non-GMO Project certified, non-allergenic and gluten-free. Labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour. As a result, they all resonate well in the clean label markets.

To learn more about the new distributor partnerships, please contact us.

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Dressings, Sauces, Condiments - Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Creates Stability, Natural Emulsifier, Creamy Texture, Clean Label, Starch Replacement
July 13, 2021
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Starch Replacement & Food Gum Extender using Citrus Fiber

The pandemic caused supply chains to choke. As a result, the availability of food ingredients such as starches and food gums tightened up. Citri-Fi® citrus fiber’s high water holding and emulsification properties at low usage levels (<1%) makes this ideal when extending or looking for gum and/or starch replacements in a variety food products.

Your local restaurant bellied up. Your favorite sneaker size is backordered for months. However, the world did not end. You can still purchase toilet paper. The pandemic’s aftermath affected supply chains globally which touched almost every commerce sector including the food industry. Lock down and affected employees caused operations to cease or slow down. Because of this, food production trickled, and seaports became congested which led to a trade imbalance. As a result, food ingredient availability, especially ones importing into the U.S. like certain starches and gums, quickly tightened. In the end, food manufacturers scrambled to find alternatives including starch replacements.

Starches and food gums are the work horses when it comes to creating stable and high-quality processed foods. Without these, foods subjected to harsh processing conditions, handling and shelf stability are typically negatively compromised. For instance, without starches and/or gums, water separation or syneresis occurs in yogurts. Dressings and sauces separate. And frozen desserts like ice cream form ice crystals during storage which leaves you with a sandy mouthfeel.

New Functional Stabilizer for the Formulating Tool Kit

Although starches and gums are top-of-mind for most food manufacturers, there are other solutions available in the market such as citrus fibers. One example includes Citri-Fi citrus fiber. This natural, upcycled functional fiber is created from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. The process is free from chemical modifications. Many confuse citrus fiber with fortifying fibers. Citri-Fi provides dual functionality – high water holding and emulsification – at very low usage levels (<1%) unlike fortifying fibers. In addition, Citri-Fi’s high pectin content and its ability to increase viscosity with high shear also differentiates itself from other citrus fibers in the marketplace. Because of this, Citri-Fi can be used to extend or replace certain starches and gums like locust bean gum/carob bean gum in a variety of food applications.

For instance, in dairy products like yogurts, cottage cheese and cream cheese spreads, Citri-Fi, when used between 0.2% and 1.0%, minimizes syneresis and improves texture. In ice creams, this natural citrus fiber reduces ice crystal formation while creating a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Also, starch replacement or extension is an option with this highly functional citrus fiber.

Citrus Fiber Solution and Perks

And since Citri-Fi’s labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour, manufacturers inadvertently clean up their label declarations which is a bonus. Citri-Fi is non-allergenic, gluten-free and non-GMO Project certified. And since this natural ingredient has no e-number, it resonates well in the European regions.

For more information in how to extend or replace starches and/or food gums, please contact us or request a sample.

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Sustainability, Environmentally Friendly, Upcycled Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber - 394x294
May 11, 2021
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Citrus Fiber In the News

Sustainable Food – Citri-Fi® Citrus Fiber the Eco-Friendly Choice

Sustainable food systems affect all touchpoints from farm to fork. From the beginning, Fiberstar produced Citri-Fi® upcycled citrus fiber from byproduct of the citrus juicing process using a method free from chemical modifications. This highly functional fiber not only reduces the use of ingredients impacting the environment, but also, cleans up food label declarations.

To define the term sustainability in a few sentences poses a massive challenge. However, in a recap, it boils down to managing resources, technology and money invested to balance the earth’s offerings and the current needs. Moreover, this also implies there is equilibrium between the “give and take” for the future generations. Today, businesses cherry pick aspects of this term to assure consumers they play a role in supporting sustainable food.

For instance, Fiberstar’s business started its life with an eco-friendly food process. Citrus growers harvest their fruit to be processed into citrus juice. This citrus juice then makes its way to retail and foodservice. At the same time, the other channels convert into higher valued products including the fibrous parts of the fruit. In the past, much of the fibrous components were used in lower valued markets but had huge potential due to its nutritional composition – fiber - and its underlying functional benefits.

The Sustainable Process

Fiberstar uses a patented method which turns byproduct of the citrus juicing process into highly functional citrus fiber which is called Citri-Fi. This process, which is free from chemical modifications, opens up the fiber to provide high water holding and emulsification properties. As a result, this upcycled citrus fiber is produced using a clean process unlike other alternatives sold in the marketplace.

And since the method retains the fiber’s wholistic form, it contains large amounts of intact pectin which gives its high functionality. Many other citrus fibers are byproduct of the pectin production. Because of this, the citrus fiber contains lower amounts of pectin content with lower functionality.

Bettering the Environment via Food

Using a sustainable process and producing eco friendly foods like Citri-Fi is one benefit. This citrus fiber also reduces the use of ingredients with higher environmental impact like fats, oils, eggs and animal dairy or meat protein. Citri-Fi replaces some or all of these ingredients in a variety of food products such as bakery, sauces and dairy foods. At the same time, this natural ingredient plays a key role in many dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. Citri-Fi provides excellent stability and texture. As a result, this citrus fiber supports environmentally friendly food by creating high quality animal-free alternatives.

Consumer Friendly Labeling

Highly functional citrus fibers like Citri-Fi are key at creating cleaner food labels. Citri-Fi’s labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour which resonate well in the consumer markets. In addition, due to it high functionality, this natural citrus fiber replaces other ingredients to shorten label declarations. Citri-Fi also contributes dietary fiber. As a result, formulators benefit versus using other stabilizers, starches and chemical emulsifiers that do not qualify.

Sustainable food systems evolve and improve every day. Some companies are playing catch up with old processes or inefficient technologies. However, there are companies like Fiberstar which entered the market with a sustainable process and product offering from the beginning. As consumers learn more about environmental impacts occurring today, they will demand a more sustainable food system. This encompasses all the touch points between farm to fork. Citri-Fi citrus fiber is a wholistic food ingredient that continues to be a natural, sustainable and eco friendly option in the market.

To learn more about our sustainable practices, please contact us.

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