The European Union has updated its regulations on the use of smoke flavourings in food products, a change which will directly affect the snack, sauce and cold meat industries. These new measures have the aim of guaranteeing food safety and protecting consumers’ health, restricting the use of certain molecules present in smoke flavourings.
What does the new regulation say?
As the European Commission has published on its official site, the regulation is focused on limiting or eliminating the use of the molecules present in smoke flavourings.
These substances, used to create traditional smoked flavours, have been identified as potentially harmful to health when consumed in high concentrations.
Impact on the food sector
This change mainly affects manufacturers of products where the smoked flavour is essential, such as:
- Snacks
- Sauces and condiments
- Cold meats and processed meats
The restriction of these molecules entails a significant challenge, but is also an opportunity for brands to develop innovative solutions that comply with regulations without compromising the flavour or quality of their products.
Solutions and innovation from the Food Lab
At Ricardo Molina, we are anticipating these challenges with a strategy based on innovation and development. At our Food Lab, we are working proactively on applications that allow our clients to reformulate products and maintain the smoked flavour profile within the regulatory parameters. Some of our main solutions include:
- Flavourings: Alternatives that replicate the smoked flavour without the restricted molecules.
- Reformulation of products: At our Food Lab we are working on the reformulation of products to offer safe alternatives that comply with the regulation, without losing the appealing smoked flavour.
Support from the Food Lab for adapting to the regulation
The opportunity to innovate
Far from being an innovation, this new regulation offers an opportunity for companies to adopt innovative and sustainable approaches in the creation of smoked flavours. The implementation of new technologies and reformulations can improve the quality and safety of products, ensuring consumer satisfaction and leadership in the sector.