Clean Label (Functional Native) Starches & Starch Systems

Ingredion's "Novation" clean label starch range offers a variety of ingredients that meet consumers' demand for clean and transparent food labelling. These starches serve as functional and natural alternatives to traditional starches, enabling food manufacturers to create clean-label products with improved texture and stability. The Novation range caters to the growing trend of consumers seeking simpler and more wholesome ingredients in their food choices. 

The available portfolio based on waxy maize, tapioca, potato, and rice, offers solutions suitable for every process and storage conditions, whilst offering manufacturers consumer-friendly front-pack labels including:

• Novation®
• Novation®  Prima
• Novation®  Lumina
• Novation®  Endura
• Novation®  Indulge

1st generation range of clean label starch offering process tolerance and stability across a range of applications.

Formulate food and beverages with ingredients consumers accept, expect, and prefer.

People want to know exactly what’s going into their food and beverages. That’s why you need to develop products containing the clean label ingredients consumers recognize and trust. Formulating additive-free, “natural” food with consumer-preferred ingredients to drive appeal inside and out can bring commercial and technical challenges.

How can you meet consumer demand for natural* clean label food and beverages without compromising flavour, colour, texture, and performance?

Look to Ingredion for a full continuum of clean label functional starches to replace ingredients perceived as undesirable in existing products and develop new products while meeting your complex functionality and manufacturing needs. With NOVATION® functional native starches, you get the texture and process tolerance offered by a modified starch — and the simpler ingredient listing consumer favour.

Our portfolio of NOVATION® functional native starches made from waxy maize, waxy rice, tapioca and potato enables you to:

• Dairy, yoghurts, desserts
• Soups, sauces, and dressings
• Frozen/Refrigerated ready meals and sides
• Fillings, fruit, and vegetable preps
• Alternative meat and dairy products
• Baby food and meals
• Bakery and snacks
• Pet food
• Beverages

Solutions under this range:

2nd generation range of clean label starch offering process tolerance with enhanced stability for all storage conditions and shelf-life expectations.

Develop clean label foods with indulgent textures

Today's consumers are increasingly time poor, so they are turning to pre-prepared foods, but still with one eye on the ingredients list. Our latest consumer study showed that consumers are increasingly scrutinising product labels looking for natural, recognisable ingredients which make the manufacturer's ingredient choice critical.

Our range of NOVATION PRIMA® clean label starches combine viscosity with high freeze/thaw stability allowing manufacturers to produce in advance or store products for longer without compromising on the eating experience of their products. This clean label starch is ideal for frozen ready meals, fruit preparation and sauces to keep their indulgent texture while undergoing extended ambient refrigerated or frozen storage.

Following nearly two years of research and development at the Ingredion Idea labs, we have developed the first pre-gelatinised starch which has been proven to maintain or even improve the indulgent mouthfeel and with a high process tolerance.​

A gluten-free solution suitable for colour and flavour sensitive applications, NOVATION PRIMA® starches can simply be labelled as 'starch', 'maize starch', 'corn starch' or 'cornflour'’ in the UK, in line with consumer preferences.

Solutions under this range:

Novation Endura offers ultimate clean label process tolerance and enhanced stability capable of meeting the most rigorous of process conditions. 

Expand your clean label possibilities into more applications than ever

Based on waxy maize, NOVATION ENDURA® 0100 functional native starch delivers a high level of process tolerance and stability to formulate savoury clean label products. This clean label starch can help food producers to create high quality, no-compromise products that fulfil the simple ingredient listings European consumers want.

NOVATION ENDURA® 0100 enables food manufacturers to create a wider range of appealing, additive-free and natural food products, including savoury dish preparations, ready meals, sauces, UHT soups and gravies in aseptic packaging, dressings and mayonnaise. NOVATION ENDURA® 0100 is particularly suited to clean label formulations that undergo higher cooking temperatures and also delivers good stability throughout a product’s shelf-life, even through freeze/thaw cycles during storage. Clean label reformulation can be a challenge in dairy applications. Owing to its high process tolerance, NOVATION ENDURA® 0100 can be used in dairy-based applications without compromising in texture stability over shelf-life.

Solution(s) under this range:

Novation Lumina is a 4th generation range of clean label starches which not only provide the performance and stability that users have come to expect but with improved colour and flavour delivery suitable for colour sensitive and the most delicate flavoured applications.

Meet consumer demand for clean labels without compromising flavour, colour, texture or performance. 

Recognizing ingredients, and avoiding artificial ones, is important to consumers and influences their purchasing decisions according to Ingredion's Proprietary Global Clean Label Consumer Study. But formulating for clean labels and consumer-winning claims like "natural," "all-natural," and "no artificial ingredients" while achieving creamy, smooth textures and maintaining your applications light colours and delicate flavours can be a challenge.

How can you formulate the clean and simple labels consumers want while maintaining your products' light colours, nuanced flavours, luxurious textures and expected performance?

With NOVATION® Lumina functional native starches and our clean label formulation expertise, we can help you achieve a consumer-preferred label while benefiting from a modified starch-like performance. We have what you need, even in your most sensitive cook-up applications, including clean label:

• Dairy — yogurts, desserts, custards, yogurt drinks
• Soups and sauces — white sauces, cooking creams, ready meals, dressings
• Fruit and vegetable preparations — fillings, fruit preps, baby meals
• Alternative meats and dairy products — vegan products, coconut and nut milks/yogurts

Designed for delicate applications

NOVATION® Lumina functional native starches offer outstanding flavour release and neutral color, making them ideal texturizers for white or light-coloured applications with more subtle flavors.

Clean label alternatives for modified starches

Like modified starches, NOVATION® Lumina functional native starches provide viscosity and gel strength to help create creamy, smooth textures. These clean label ingredients also offer excellent freeze/thaw and shelf-life stability and have a high process tolerance, ideal for products that undergo harsh processing conditions.

Solutions under this range:

Range of clean label co-texturisers that will contribute to mouthfeel and texture in the final application. These products can support reduction of high-cost ingredients such as dairy fats and proteins or supporting the production of reduced fat products without compromising texture or mouthfeel. 

Optimise appeal with consumer-preferred labels

Ingredients and ingredient claims are the top-ranked attributes in the consumer purchase decision in EMEA, and 93% of consumers in the region report reading labels as often or more than they did two years ago. More, claims related to naturality and no additives are amongst the top drivers for switching brands.1 Labeled simply as “starch,” NOVATION® Indulge co-texturising starches enable shorter ingredient statements when used in conjunction with other starches to create a simple ingredient list that consumers trust. These ingredients also support “natural/all natural” and “no artificial ingredient” packaging claims, which signal product quality.

Deliver nutritional improvements

NOVATION® Indulge co-texturising starches are particularly relevant in the context of today’s reduced sugar, low-fat and dairy-free trends, where they can be used to successfully build back the desired creamy mouthfeel. As a fat replacement, these ingredients offer the functionality of a modified starch co-texturiser whilst helping you meet consumer demand for clean and simple labels.

Drive brand value and maximize profits

Product attributes like smoothness, richness and creaminess are highly influential factors in repeat purchase behavior, but the ingredients commonly used can represent a significant portion of formulation cost and are susceptible to fluctuation. NOVATION® Indulge co-texturising starches replace fat, protein or other ingredients, providing manufacturers with reduced formulation costs. More, these ingredients enable natural/all natural packaging claims – for which 73% of consumers have expressed a willingness to pay an additional 5% or more – thereby providing manufacturers with the potential to increase revenue.

Ready to learn more? Contact our expert technical team to discover how NOVATION® Indulge starches can help you formulate high-quality, cost-effective clean label products with the eating experience your consumers love.

Innovate delicious, healthier products that grow your brand with clean label co-texturisers

Demand for clean label food and beverages continues to rise as consumer preference for familiar ingredients, attractive labels and exceptional product quality becomes the standard. How can you make your products even more delicious whilst maximising brand value?

As leading innovators, Ingredion has proven success in helping our customers develop consumer-winning, clean label products that deliver in terms of taste, quality and eating enjoyment, and our range of innovative, functional native co-texturising starches is no exception.

Clean label and E-number free, NOVATION® Indulge co-texturising starches enhance the texture and mouthfeel in foods to increase indulgence, improve quality and drive revenue. They provide superior stability and have a high process tolerance. Typically used with base viscosifiers, these ingredients are effective at low usage levels, easily dispersed and lend a clean taste profile to your application.

Create indulgent eating experiences

Tapioca-based NOVATION® Indulge 3620 functional native co-texturising starch excels in 3-in-1 hot drink mixes, soups, sauces and dairy beverages where a silky-smooth, creamy texture must be delivered.

NOVATION® Indulge 2920 starch is a next-level fat mimetic you need to deliver indulgent and memorable eating experiences.

Solutions under this range:

Range of organic certified starches providing superior process tolerance and stability compared to standard organic starches available. Low chlorate versions available suitable to be used in products suitable for infants targeted.

Following the pivotal change in organic regulations that came into effect on 1st January 2024, which significantly reduced the allowance of non-organic agricultural ingredients, the food and beverage industry has been propelled into a new era of formulation and consumer expectation. This regulatory shift mirrors a growing consumer trend towards more natural, wholesome, and transparent food choices. In response, Ingredion has crafted its NOVATION® range of organic certified functional native starches, designed to empower manufacturers to excel in this transformed landscape.

A New Standard for Organic Foods

At the heart of this transformation, Ingredion’s NOVATION® organic starches offer a straightforward yet impactful label declaration—‘organic starch’. This aligns perfectly with the clean label trend and meets the increasing consumer demand for products that are both recognizable and trusted. Whether the application spans dairy, sauces, baked goods, or more, these starches ensure that the final products not only adhere to the new regulations but also deliver the taste, texture, and overall sensory experience that today’s consumers demand.

Key benefits:

• Regulatory Compliance: Adapted for the post-2024 organic regulation landscape, these starches help manufacturers navigate compliance smoothly.
• Consumer Appeal: The ‘organic starch’ declaration caters to the heightened consumer demand for transparency and simplicity in food labeling.
• Enhanced Sensory Profiles: Engineered for excellence, NOVATION® organic starches provide exceptional taste and texture, ensuring a superior eating experience.
• Broad Application Versatility: These starches address a wide range of formulation challenges, making them a versatile choice for enhancing organic food products.

Rising to the Challenge

With the new organic regulations now in effect, the need for reformulation has become a reality for products previously utilizing non-organic waxy maize or rice-based starches. Ingredion’s NOVATION® range of 100% certified organic functional native starches offers an optimal solution. These starches not only ensure products meet stringent regulatory requirements but also distinguish them in a competitive market by tapping into the consumer’s growing desire for authentic and natural ingredients.

By leveraging Ingredion's NOVATION® organic starches, manufacturers can confidently embrace the new standards of organic food production, delivering products that resonate with the authenticity and quality consumers seek in their organic food choices.

Solutions under this range: