Norgrow International Launch Powersalt ® as a natural clean label sodium reduction solution to manufacturers

Norgrow International Ltd. has been developing reduced sodium ingredients which meet the clean label criteria required by food producers and retailers. By retaining the key elements of customer needs and providing solutions for healthy eating, Powersalt® offers a most acceptable solution .

The big issue that processors have in terms of salt use is balancing four criteria - taste, daily intake limits, salt's preserving or inhibiting functional effect and cost of finished product.

Salt, being a low cost commodity, means finding workable natural solutions that balance the criteria almost impossible, so there is always a need for additional payoffs in replacing salt with some other alternative that allows for lower use thus offering a healthy option. Powersalt® meets these needs in several ways:

•  A 50% reduction in added salt in manufactured products is possible, thus healthy options are well within reach for the majority of manufacturers.

•  Powersalt ® is clean label, so no requirement for label changes in the majority of cases.

•  In many of the alternative solutions on offer, potassium chloride is used to provide the sodium reduction in the finished product. This means added costs of reformulation to hide the off flavour created by the use of this chemical, label redesign and hence delays in bringing products to shelf.

•  Powersalt ® enhances the strength and longevity of flavours and salt in finished products by retaining salt and flavours on the tastebuds for longer.

•  Significant savings can be made by manufacturers reducing their use of high cost flavour and seasoning blends, which adequately offset the added cost of moving away from commodity salt into a multi-functional replacement ingredient.

Salt is a vital nutrient for normal body function however with average daily consumption in the western world standing at between 10 and 12 grams compared to the recommended limit of 5 grams (WHO/FAO), there is a real need for processors to address this issue with a holistic approach such as advocated by Unilever recently.

High blood pressure, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke are a few of the more serious health risks associated with high sodium intake. Studies have shown that currently between 70 and 80% of salt intake comes from processed foods thus it stands to reason that a concerted effort by manufacturers to address salt levels in processing systems will make a significant and immediate positive difference to the general health of the global village.

Between 2005 and 2008, products coming to the market making reduced or no added sodium claims increased by 115%. By contrast, in a survey undertaken by The Centre for Science in the Public Interest recently, it was shown that the average sodium content of 528 packaged and restaurant foods stayed essentially the same between 2005 and 2008.

A 50% or more reduction in added salt is the level at which significant benefits to consumer health may occur. Powersalt ® has the ability to meet this demand in a totally natural application of salt. As with other significant developments in the food industry, Powersalt ® will differentiate those companies seeking alternatives to potassium chloride based reduction systems or other systems currently being marketed.

The FSA and other national health authorities have set targets for various food sectors by 2010. Powersalt ® gives processors a new opportunity to revisit the needs of existing and new products coming to market to meet or exceed the targets and contribute positively towards reducing sodium intake across nations.