Why Choose Food Research Lab's FRL as Your Food Product Development (FPD) Consultant and Partner?

There are several options in almost every product area in today’s market, and the difficulty is in coming up with unique items that stand out and connect with customers. Food Research Lab's Food Research Lab takes a holistic approach to creating food and beverage products. We define, demographically target, and build effective goods through a sequential process for category selection and comprehension. The client can visit the lab to learn the process. We offer unlimited rounds of revisions to ensure customer satisfaction. The final product prototype, along with the documentation process, including the video (through email), will be shipped to the client, and in case the client is not satisfied with the video, a food technology consultant will visit the place for the product demo at the client’s costs.

What are the different forms that you deliver the Food Product Formulations?

The food industry is witnessing a new form of consumption. Keeping that in mind, we can formulate the products in the form of ready-to-eat, ready-to-drink, ready-to-mix, ready-to-serve, and ready-to-cook food products. We use ingredients that offer an added value to the development and improve its indulgence and sustainability in terms of its functional ingredients, plant-based food dyes, and natural preservatives with a clean label.

What are the sectors Food Research Lab cover?

We cover a wide range of sectors such as soups, sauces and dips, chips, tortillas, dry beverage powder, plant-based products, masalas, puddings, instant mixes and many more.

How is sensory testing been carried out?

Our sensory examination leads to the precise formulation and recipe recommendations. We develop data-driven design models based on sensory research and customer insights. The fact-based design methodology used by Food Research Lab reduces risk and gives our clients market confidence while cutting development time in half. With our dedicated sensory lab facility, our team takes satisfaction in creating and optimizing successful products in the marketplace, generating a favourable return on investment, and developing brand advocates.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) provides specific guidelines for defining "natural" in the context of pet food ingredients. This definition is essential for manufacturers aiming to align with industry standards for natural labeling and ingredient sourcing. Here, we’ll break down the criteria set by AAFCO and how they apply to natural pet food ingredients.

Defining “Natural” Ingredients According to AAFCO Standards

Interesting News . Nov 21, 2024

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) provides specific guidelines for defining “natural” in the context of pet food ingredients. This definition is essential for manufacturers aiming to align with industry standards for natural labeling and ingredient sourcing. Here, we’ll break down the criteria set by AAFCO and how they apply to natural pet food ingredients.

1. What does AAFCO define as a “natural” ingredient?

According to AAFCO, a natural ingredient is one that is:

Sourced from Nature: Derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources.
Allowed Processing Methods: The ingredient may be unprocessed or processed through physical methods, such as heat, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation.
No Synthetic Chemicals: The ingredient should not undergo any chemically synthetic processing or contain synthetic additives. However, minor traces of synthetic substances may be permissible if they are unavoidable under good manufacturing practices.

2. What types of processing are acceptable for natural ingredients?

AAFCO allows various non-synthetic processing methods to retain the “natural” status of an ingredient, including:

Physical Processing: Methods like grinding or milling.
Heat Processing: Cooking or heating to ensure safety or improve digestibility.
Rendering and Purification: Processes that remove impurities or extract components.
Enzymatic and Microbial Methods: Hydrolysis and enzymolysis are used to break down proteins or other compounds, while fermentation can naturally preserve or enhance nutritional content.

3. Are additives allowed in natural ingredients?

AAFCO specifies that natural ingredients should not contain synthetic additives or processing aids, except for trace amounts that are unavoidable through good manufacturing practices. This guideline ensures that the term “natural” maintains its integrity, limiting the presence of synthetic chemicals to those that may inadvertently occur.

Summary of AAFCO’s “Natural” Ingredient Definition

Criterion	Details
Source	Derived from plant, animal, or mined sources without synthetic processing.
Allowed Processing	Includes physical, heat, rendering, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, and fermentation.
Synthetic Additives	No synthetic additives or processing aids, except minor traces that are unavoidable.

For more insights on natural pet food formulations and ingredient sourcing, explore Food Research Lab’s Pet Nutrition Consulting Services. At FRL, we help pet food manufacturers align with regulatory definitions, ensuring transparency and quality for pet owners seeking natural food options.