Give customers the choice to reduce the fat but keep the taste! Today’s consumers are becoming smarter when it comes to making healthier food choices. However, being conscious about their food does not mean a willingness to forfeit taste: they want nutritionally balanced food that is tasty too. That is why Puratos developed Puraslim: a fat alternative that improves the nutritional values of breads and cakes by lowering calories and fat while keeping the taste. In blind taste tests consumers were satisfied with reduced fat products, and the buying intention increased significantly when additional information was given on the lower fat content.**
Give customers the choice to reduce the fat but keep the taste!
Today's consumers are becoming smarter when it comes to making healthier food choices. However, being conscious about their food does not mean a willingness to forfeit taste: they want nutritionally balanced food that is tasty too. That is why Puratos developed Puraslim: a fat alternative that improves the nutritional values of breads and cakes by lowering calories and fat while keeping the taste. In blind taste tests consumers were satisfied withreduced fat products, and the buying intention increased significantly when additional information was given on the lower fat content.**
Consumers make smarter food choices.
Results from a consumer survey conducted by Insites on behalf of Puratos* showed that around half of US consumers frequently check nutritional and ingredient information on packaged food: 51% of the USA respondents stated that they read ingredient lists 'most of the time' and 57% 'very frequently' read the nutritional information. The survey also demonstrated that when consumers read nutritional information, they are mainly checking the fat (60%) and calorie levels (52%). The nutritional value clearly impacts their product choice also more than 70% make in-category comparisons when purchasing packaged goods. Consumers said they would eat more baked goods if they were reduced in fat and/or calories. It is thus no surprise that consumers also have a good knowledge of the fat level of baked goods. Sweet treats (single cakes, sweet breads, cakes, viennoisserie and donuts) are considered to have high to very high fat levels. In a more recent study done by Puratos**, 62% of the consumers expressed a feeling of guilt when eating muffins. Despite being fattening, baked goods are considered tasty. When asked what they would like changed in baked goods, consumers most often answered "a reduction in fat and calorie levels."
Puraslim: a smart alternative for traditional fats
Puraslim is a smart alternative to traditional margarine, butter and oil in bread and cake applications. It is a functional paste that reduces the level of saturated and total fat in baked goods and contributes to a more balanced calorific level.It mimics all the functionalities of traditional fats such as softness, texture and shelf life.
For breads the total fat reduction can amount to 70%. This allows nutritional claims such as 'low in fat', 'zero grams trans fat per serving' and 'reduced fat' in rolls, pan bread, tortilla and buns. For example replacing 2% shortening with 1% Puraslim in a sub roll, results in a total fat reduction of 60%.
For cakes and muffins, using Puraslim reduces total fat up to 50%. It allows promotion of nutritional claims like 'reduced fat' in sweet good applications such as loaf cakes, ring cakes, muffins, and brownies. Byreplacing 65% of the oil added to a blueberry muffin recipe with Puraslim, a total fat reduction of 46% can be obtained.
The cost of Puraslim within the recipe is comparable to margarines and shortening, but it is used at lower dosage levels, resulting in a price competitive position. Puraslim is also less price volatile than oils, ensuring a more stable price point.
Tested and approved
Sensory analysis ** (in blind tests) has shown a positive response from consumers for products containing Puraslim. Their preference increases when they discover the product is reduced in fat. For example, 81% of the consumers were satisfied with the Puraslim muffin, and the buying intention increased significantly when additional information was given on the lower fat content.
It is clear that consumers are looking for baked goods with a lower fat and calorie levels, as long as they are convinced that their favorite muffin or bun is as tasty as before. Give them the choice and let them taste!
There are no more excuses when it comes to offering consumers healthier baked products: with Puraslim, they are tasty, healthy and available at a comparable price to equivalent products. That's just what consumers want.
Source: Puratos
