Ulrick & Short is launching a new range clean label, natural texturizing solutions – called virturaTM. The growing emphasis on consumer transparency & perceptions of naturalness is more relevant now than ever, with 66% of global consumers finding “natural” claims appealing in/on bakery products1, and the recent public debate around Ultra Processed Foods bringing this further into the spotlight.
The first product in the range is virturaTM Au, a product specifically designed as a functional alternative to psyllium husk in bakery applications – typically products such as gluten free breads & bread products. Declared simply as Linseed Flour & Tapioca Starch, it replaces an opaque, non-consumer friendly ingredient declaration with a clean & transparent one.
virturaTM Au is a genuine sustainable replacement – with the golden linseed raw material derived from European origin, reducing freight miles when compared with psyllium husk which is typically cultivated in Northern India. Furthermore, the golden linseed is a side stream product, derived from the press cake formed after oil production. The unique functional properties of the golden linseed flour are further enhanced through physical drying and milling methods – resulting in excellent properties which are comparable with synthetic hydrocolloids, and offering a sustainable equivalent.