Healthy, natural, tasty and long-lasting. At a time when consumers are making increasingly conscious food choices, demand for healthier alternatives to sugary drinks is growing. Lemonade syrups traditionally contain a lot of sugar, which contributes to the sweet taste and also extends the shelf life. Sugar-free lemonade syrups usually contain artificial preservatives. As consumers are increasingly looking for clean-label food products without artificial additives, there is demand from the food production industry for natural ways to keep products fresh for longer.
Extending shelf life
The KIEM GoFood project “Preserved by Nature”, subsidised by SIA, aims to develop a proof-of-concept sugar-free lemonade syrup that is preserved without artificial additives, in collaboration with JB Diesch (Searoop) and RKI Sustainable Solutions. Research will be conducted into how the antimicrobial properties of plant extracts can be used to extend shelf life. By combining different extracts and utilising their synergistic effects on microbial growth, extract blends will be developed that extend shelf life while maintaining a balanced flavour profile.
Proof-of-concept sugar-free lemonade syru
The extract blends will then be used to produce a proof-of-concept sugar-free lemonade syrup, the shelf life of which will be tested against the Searopen benchmark. The sugar-free lemonade syrup will enable JB Diesch to strengthen its competitive position in the market. In addition, the natural preservatives based on plant extracts can also be used more widely in the food industry, for example in jams and sauces.
