UK-based flavor company ITS has boosted its capabilities in testing flavorings for milk with the launch of an ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pilot plant at its England-based facility. 

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, Briony Rideout, dairy and beverage innovations specialist at ITS, says the company will test flavorings to make sure they can survive the extreme heat treatment. 

“This means when the flavors arrive with the customer, they will be suitable for development,” she explains. 

ITS specializes in the flavored milk sector. The company has developed an extensive range of natural flavorings that blend pasteurized milk and UHT-treated milk products.

The new facility will ensure its products are fully UHT tested. 

“We offer customers the chance to use the UHT pilot plant to do smaller test runs of product before they size up for production,” Rideout adds.ITS personnel from left to right; Lucian Badiu, Briony Rideout, Mike Bagshaw and Carl Smith

Flavor effectiveness
The UHT testing process ensures that flavors infused into liquids and dairy products are compelling.

“It has allowed us to create new flavors that are best suited to UHT treatment to make sure they stay true to the flavor profile and do not develop any off-tastes,” says Rideout.

The company will carry out smaller trials with UHT flavors and products.

Flavor trends in focus
“Strawberry is notorious for being hard to treat with UHT treatment, but having the pilot plant has enabled us to do extensive testing to get the best tasting flavors,” continues Rideout.

She also notes there is currently a crossover trend between dessert and ice cream flavorings.

“We also see a rise of premium and indulgent flavors,” she adds. Innova Market Insights shows that products with ultra-filtration and other processes that alter milk and yogurt will expand to meet these flavor needs. 

Innova Market Insights research for 2019 and 2021 shows that chocolate was the number one flavor in dairy milk in the US, comprising 23% of all global launches.

Vanilla ranked second challenging strawberry for a top position in dairy yogurt applications. Fruit flavors also rank high for milk-based products. Dark chocolate and maple are gaining traction within the milk sector, according to the market researcher. 

Milk chocolate has consistently been the most frequently launched milk flavor between 2019 and 2021. Banana remains in the top ten flavors, while mango and coconut fell from the top ten launches between the same period. 

UHT spotlighted
The installation of the UHT plant at ITS is in line with the direction that companies in the dairy industry are expected to move.

Innova Market Insight research estimates that products with ultra-filtration and other processes that alter milk and yogurt, including UHT testing, will expand to meet these flavor needs.

Earlier this year, Tetra Pak unveiled its UHT 2.0 heating portfolio and Tetra Pak E3/Speed Hyper packaging equipment to meet pressing wastewater needs in the dairy sector. 

The solutions are designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions and steam and water usage while reducing operational costs by up to 30%. 

Earlier this year, in celebration of World Milk Day, industry leaders discussed sustainable solutions that benefit the environment, human nutrition and the socio-economics of dairy production.