Replace Synthetic Flavorings with Natural Flavorings - Product Development and Method for Accelerated Shelf Life Studies Development

Abstract

Flavorings are concentrated products consisting of the flavor molecule together with carriers. Flavorings are divided into two major groups, synthetic flavorings and natural flavorings. The consumers are more and more demanding products without synthetic flavorings since they do not want to have “chemicals” in the food. This project was part of the replacement process at the food company Santa Maria AB. The aim was to replace the synthetic flavorings in the Tortilla cheese chips, and Cheese dip mix with natural flavorings or other natural components. Complementary to the product development work a method to do accelerate shelf life studies of seasoned tortilla chips was developed. From the study it was obtained that natural flavors are generally not as complete and clean in taste as the synthetic ones, but together with other taste boosting components it is possible to achieve the same or better taste profile as previously without a too high cost. Also an accelerated shelf life method based on high temperature stress, possible to use when doing product development work of seasoned tortilla chips, was developed. The shelf life of the Tortilla cheese chips with the synthetic cheese flavors replaced was measured with the method to be seven months