This is great news for consumers because it will helps them boost their intake of fibre while enjoying the things they want to eat - clearly a win-win situation. We live in a convenience society and we like it handed it to us on a plate; Tate & Lyle has the ingredients to make it happen!

Teaming up with Lipid Nutrition, Tate & Lyle will develop new ENRICH ingredient systems for soups, sauces and dressings. These will include Lipid Nutrition's PinnoThin pine nut oil, Clarinol and Marinol. So, what's the big deal about lipids? These are interesting ingredients that not only boost nutritional levels and promote well being, they also help satiate hunger. Very clever ingredients, which are great news for food and beverage processors/manufacturers and consumers alike.

Remaining at the raw end of the market, the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) recently announced that it has set minimum levels for whole grains. According to the IGD, this is the first time the UK food and grocery industry has developed an agreed definition and recommended level of inclusion for whole grains in foods.

IGD's Working Group on nutrition recommends that packaged goods claiming the presence of whole grain should contain at least 8g of whole grain per serving. Foods that commonly contain whole grains include breads, breakfast cereals, brown rice and pastas.

"People who consume diets rich in whole grains seem to have a lower incidence of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Despite these benefits, intakes in the UK remain low," says Dr Clare Leonard, chair of IGD's Nutrition Working Group.

IGD's Working Group defines whole grains as having to include the entire germ, endosperm and bran. Temporary separation of these parts during processing is acceptable, provided the proportions are the same or virtually the same as the original grain.

Dairy-based ingredients for hot beverages

More and more consumers are looking for better quality vended drinks says Eurogran, a leading European, dedicated manufacturer of ingredients for the vending industry. One crucial factor for creating a high quality vending drink is the milk product. The quality of the milk product used in hot beverages is extremely important for the final result of the drink.

Eurogran highlights that no artificial trans-fatty acids are present in their products. Some research suggests that levels of trans-fatty acids can alter the amount of cholesterol found in blood, which can be a significant risk to people suffering from high cholesterol levels and heart disease. In addition to being found in margarine, trans-fatty acids are also found naturally in small quantities in beef, pork, lamb, and milk.

Milk fat has a small content of natural trans-fatty acids, which cannot be removed from the milk. These natural trans-fatty acids are produced in the rumen of the cow and have always been present in milk products. These TFA have no significance from a nutritional point of view. However, TFA can also be formed industrially by partial hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from vegetable and marine oils.

Products from Eurogran contain only naturally occurring TFA. Danish law bans the use of oils and fats containing more than a tiny (2%) amount of TFA in products sold in or exported from Denmark. The company's products have less than 1% TFA which means that they may be claimed to be free from trans-fatty acids.

Enough chat; let's look at what Eurogran offers.

Le Royal Topping - this, says Eurogran, adds a lovely milky froth to any coffee, chocolate or cappuccino drink. The product is produced from unique recipes and adapted to the demand of regional markets. Le Royal topping is produced exclusively from dairy products, primarily skimmed milk, and has a total fat content of less than 1, 5%. Le Royal topping dissolves 100% in the cup and gives a rich milky taste.

Le Royal Gourmet Topping - this gives an extra high and stable foam that smells and tastes of fresh, steamed milk. Le Royal Gourmet Topping is perfect for a delicious, foamy caffé latte or cappuccino.

Le Royal Granulated Milk - is refined in a granulating process that gives the product exactly the right milky taste. The correct granulating process simultaneously gives the product the perfect cup solubility and optimum vending machine qualities with a very precise dosage and creates minimal dust in the machine. Le Royal Granulated milk comes in both sweetened and unsweetened versions that both give thick and creamy foam.

Le Royal Granulated Skimmed Milk - this 100% granulated skimmed milk powder for vending is perfect for a delicious, healthier cappuccino, caffé  latte, or hot chocolate. Le Royal granulated skimmed milk powder combined with a good coffee gives a cappuccino or caffé latte with the superior taste of fresh steamed milk. The product contains only 1% fat while a whitener (creamer) is about 30% fat.

Le Royal Coffee Whitener - is the perfect base for all types of coffee. The product enhances the taste of coffee and can also be used in tea. Due to its low dosage and its excellent functionality, Le Royal Whitener is very economical in use and therefore ensures a competitive price.

Staying on the theme of milk, readers may recall Aimia Foods' Milfresh Superior Granulated Skimmed Milk Powder mentioned in the previous article. This has no additives or preservatives - it offers just the pure natural taste of real skimmed milk. It is also free of hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVO) that produce TFAs, and is low calorie and virtually fat free.

Along with the obvious health benefits, the product does not compromise on drink quality, whipping into a strong creamy head to dispense a deliciously indulgent speciality coffee. It also dissolves evenly with tea and coffee to provide a drink that tastes as good as if made with fresh milk - helping to achieve higher vend prices and provide a healthier more natural hot drinks selection.

Aimia Foods also offers its HVO-Free Whitener, which is free of TFAs. This provides a welcome opportunity for operators to deliver better quality vended hot beverages to the growing number of health-conscious consumers. Offering a HVO-free option can address customers' concerns and support premium pricing. Milfresh HVO-free Whitener can be substituted for standard whiteners, so that operators can provide hot drinks without compromising on taste. With no machine changes required, Milfresh HVO-free whitener has been developed specifically for both tea and coffee and is the perfect ingredient for vended hot beverages.

Natural milk-based drinks

For operators looking to fill gaps in vending machines left behind by fizzy carbonated drinks, Pritchitts provides an answer with its Viva Flavoured Milk range. Based on natural milk, Viva Flavoured Milk is available in three popular flavours - chocolate, strawberry and banana -  in convenient 200ml cartons with straws.

Simon Muschamp, head of marketing, Pritchitts, says: "Viva Flavoured Milk has been specifically developed to comply with the new standards for schools, offering a healthy yet delicious drink that can be enjoyed by children, but also other sectors of the foodservice market too. Containing fresh semi-skimmed milk, natural colours and flavourings, and only 4% added sugar, the drinks are healthy, nutritious and a great alternative to carbonated drinks."

What's more, Pritchitts has removed cochineal food colouring from its strawberry variety, which is often used to give products a strawberry coloured appearance and which has recently been banned by many local authorities.

The eye-catching packaging of the Viva Flavoured Milk range reinforces the wholesomeness of the products whilst also appealing to children. Viva Flavoured Milk is an ambient product and has a long shelf life of six months, eliminating the need for chilled storage. It also contains no artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives.

"When the new school guidelines came into place, some schools struggled to find a replacement for fizzy drinks in school vending, so we felt that as a responsible supplier we needed to help caterers find a healthy alternative. Viva Flavoured Milks provide just this, as they offer the health benefits of milk in a fun, flavoursome way that will appeal to children of all ages," concludes Simon.

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