An unexpected ingredient is making waves. Seaweed is becoming a popular ingredient in food manufacturing as consumers start to see its value.
Why should distributors save some shelf space for an exotic underwater ingredient when there are plenty of crops on dry land? Here are a few reasons.
Consumers Are Developing a Taste for It
Southeast Asia and Japan have shown us the gourmet qualities of seaweed for years. And if you’ve ever had sushi, there’s a good chance you’ve already eaten some seaweed. That fact is slowly chipping away at the stigma of algae not traditionally found in Western diets.
When used in food manufacturing, it adds a naturally salty flavor to any food. You’re seeing more seaweed in everyday foods such as salads, cheese, pastas and sauces. The potential is largely unexplored, meaning we’re likely at the beginning of this food trend.
The future of food may be found in the ocean
It’s Very Healthy
For the same reasons you’ve seen an explosion of kale in the health food aisle, you’re going to see more seaweed products there. Seaweed is packed with nutrients and minerals largely absent from modern diets. What’s more, the natural salty flavor gives food manufacturers an opportunity to reduce actual salt content.
From a manufacturing perspective, there are other benefits less visible to the consumer. For example, in food items such as pasta and bread, spray-dried or granulated seaweed can reduce how much flour you need. That’s big when carving out a niche in the increasingly popular health food market.
Seaweed Is Sustainable
Compared with land crops that are susceptible to drought, parasites and so much more, seaweed is much easier to grow. It doesn’t require any land space. It has much less competition in terms of crops that need the same area. And you don’t have to water it. In fact, seaweed thrives in environments of all kinds.
As the global population soars and puts a strain on food security, seaweed is likely to be a part of the solution.
The Leaders in Specialty Foods
At PacMoore, we have long embraced new ingredients and techniques. Our skilled staff and cutting-edge food processing technology for extrusion, spray drying, blending, consumer packaging and other services put us at the lead when it comes to new trends in food manufacturing. As seaweed takes off, you can bet PacMoore will be there with it.
To learn more about the unique and not-so-unique ingredients we work with, contact PacMoore today.
Share this on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, or email to a friend.
Click below to share:
