Kerry has unveiled its expanded range of organic-certified extracts and flavorings that are in compliance with the upcoming EU regulations for organic flavor labeling. The “first to market” portfolio includes citrus, berry, orchard, tropical and brown profiles.

“The new regulation is a result of the increasing consumer calls for clarification about what ingredients can go into organic food and beverage products,” Christina Matrozou, Kerry’s marketing manager of sweet and modulation taste in Europe and Russia, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“The new regulation may represent a substantial challenge for those food and beverage manufacturing companies that need to reformulate existing organic products or those that would like to upgrade their current formulations.”

The SimplyNature Organic range includes 24 flavorings, extracts, washes and distillates of orange, lemon, apple, raspberry, strawberry, mango, passion fruit, coffee, chocolate, cocoa and vanilla, to list a few of the major options currently on offer. 

The new range complements the rest of the Kerry flavorings suite regarded as “suitable for organic,” including SimplyNature Natural X Flavourings, SimplyNature Extracts, and TasteSense Natural Flavourings with Modifying Properties Suitable for Organic.

Tightening up approach to organic regulation
These new developments are in compliance with the incoming EU regulations regarding the labeling of flavors used in organic food and beverages. The new regulation (EU 2018/848, scheduled for implementation January 1, 2022) is much more stringent in terms of what can be used in food and beverage products designated as “organic.”

This new EU law, published in May 2018, states that flavorings for organic foods and beverages will need to now be at least Natural X Flavourings (95/5 formula structure), with those meeting the new standard permitted to be described as “suitable for organic.”

At the same time, flavorings formulated from at least 95 percent of organic raw materials can be declared as “organic flavorings”. 

“Our latest portfolio of organic certified flavorings and extracts delivers benefits and impacts that are very close to conventional natural flavorings and extracts, with the important exception that they can be labeled as ‘Organic Certified’ – in full compliance with the incoming EU regulations,” says Davide Foà, Kerry’s business development director of taste in the EU and Russia.  

“This enables organic product developers to use these flavorings and extracts without specific limitations, as part of the 95 percent of the organic product formulation delivering the organoleptic impact, in a cost-effective manner.”

This new portfolio of SimplyNature Organic certified flavorings, washes, distillates and extracts from Kerry initially covers the major iconic flavors. It is pegged by the company to evolve and expand over time in line with customer demand. 

In recent flavor launches, Kerry also debuted an extract technology that enables innovators to formulate with the taste essences of citrus fruits, labeled as “natural extracts.” The technology is designed to provide an extended, “more full-bodied” finish to flavored NPD.