Sponsored Content
How a new use for almond co-products is helping tackle food waste
31 May 2023As sustainability remains a high priority in consumers’ purchase decisions, manufacturers can use almonds in good conscience. New research has found innovative ways to use almond co-products as a food ingredient.
With the current economic climate forcing consumers to weigh up product costs against the wider benefits they deliver, sustainability remains a high priority in purchasing decisions. Consumers are seeking brands that align with their core values and that can demonstrate this through product formulations, and wider sustainability actions.
Innova’s Market Insights found that minimising food waste is the top action consumers are taking when it comes to reducing costs in a conscious way and California almonds are a great choice for manufacturers who want to align with this consumer priority. Not only are almonds a great low waste ingredient thanks to their long shelf life, but California almonds are also grown in a zero-waste way, where everything is put to good use.
In fact, new innovative research has added to almonds’ zero-waste credentials by finding higher-value uses for co-products which would otherwise go to waste. A collaboration between food scientists at food and drink development organisation Mattson and California’s almond industry has proven that almond co-products can be used as an ingredient in food.
The nutritious almonds we eat grow in a shell, protected by a hull, on a tree and none of it goes to waste. At the end of their productive lives, almond trees are ground up and incorporated back into the soil in a process known as Whole Orchard Recycling, which in turn, improves soil health, boosts water efficiency, increases yields and reduces greenhouse gases. Traditionally, the shells are also used as livestock bedding and the hulls become livestock feed, however this research has found a potential new use for the hulls.
Almond hulls contain significant amounts of extractable sugar and antioxidants and have a unique flavour profile. Mattson researchers have been testing how they can be used to make high-fibre nutrition and energy bars, coffee or tea replacements and they recently crossed a critical threshold, as their proof-of-concept samples definitively demonstrate that these nutrient-rich, zero-waste ingredients are viable additions to future healthy food products – and offset the need to grow or produce other ingredients.
As consumers continue to prioritise sustainability in their food choices, manufacturers can use California almonds in good conscience, given the industry’s commitment to continuously finding new and innovative ways to reduce its impact on the environment.
----------------------------------------------------References:
- Innova Market Insights Trends Survey 2022
Companies mentioned
Related news
Rioja Nature Pharma obtains Friend of the Sea certification
1 Apr 2025
Rioja
Nature Pharma takes another step forward in its commitment to excellence and
the environment by obtaining Friend of the Sea certification for its Omega-3
EPA and Omega-3 DHA softgel fish oil food supplement manufacturing lines.
New high-CBD raw material brings opportunities for the nutraceuticals industry
26 Mar 2025
A new high-CBD raw material is available to the nutraceuticals industry. Bedrocan, an experienced cannabis cultivator, explains why non-hemp CBD of consistent content is an advantage.
Read more
Rioja Nature Pharma incorporates Sulphoraphan Smart, an innovative compound patented by Ingredalia, to its catalogue of ingredients.
25 Mar 2025
Sulforaphane is the active ingredient of broccoli that makes this vegetable a superfood, as it activates the cellular defence against inflammation and oxidation. However, its synthesis and absorption is not always correct, as it is degraded before reac...
Read more
Faster, higher, better – Unlock the Power of Mineral Salts in Sports Nutrition
20 Mar 2025
Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, and Zinc fuel athletes' energy and recovery. German manufacturer Dr. Paul Lohmann® provides high-quality Mineral Salts that support peak athletic performance.
Read more
Visit MÜNZING at VITAFOODS 2025 in Barcelona, Spain at booth 5H45
18 Mar 2025
Experience MÜNZING's high-performance MAGRABAR® defoamers at Vitafoods Europe 2025, taking place from 20 to 22 May in Barcelona, Spain. Visit us at booth 5H45 for live demonstrations of our food-grade antifoams and insights into our i...
Read more
FrieslandCampina Ingredients launches Nutri Whey™ ProHeat for the performance and active nutrition market
18 Mar 2025
[18 March 2025] – FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a global leader in proteins and prebiotics, announces the launch of Nutri Whey™ ProHeat – a heat-stable whey protein – to help brands in the performance and active nutrition market...
Read more
Trend alert: photoprotection supplements
18 Mar 2025
The photoprotection market is evolving. More and more consumers are looking for innovative solutions to complement traditional sunscreens, and this is where food supplements with active photoprotective ingredients are making a difference.
Read more
Experts recommended treatment for knee osteoarthritis
17 Mar 2025
Artroveron® Active+ is a complex that helps to repair cartilage and maintain healthy joint so you can continue with daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, getting out of bed without pain. Artroveron consists of high dose glucosami...
Read more
Protein Powders with Improved Solubility
14 Mar 2025
The clear advantages of fluidized bed technology compared to the drying process of protein powder in the spray tower:- Faster and improved solubility of proteins compared to powders from the spray tower
- Targeted adjustment of the particle size, re...
PharmaLinea's product awarded for innovation in bone and joint health
11 Mar 2025