Many food brands today claim to embrace the Clean Label approach in their products. While this concept seems to reflect a desire to offer healthy foods, what does it truly mean? What challenges and issues does it raise?
Clean label: definition
Clean Label is a voluntary approach adopted by food industry players who aim to offer healthy and eco-friendly products. However, this designation is not regulated by legislation, and its parameters may vary among stakeholders.
The concept emerged from the desire to provide foods free from artificial additives, some of which have been scientifically proven harmful. Over time, this concept has broadened. It is now used by manufacturers who commit to removing from their ingredient lists any element potentially harmful (or perceived negatively) by consumers, such as GMOs, pesticides, pollutants, or nanoparticles. Clean Label also applies to companies committed to environmental respect, animal welfare, and reducing their activity’s impact on the planet.
Clean Label is thus a voluntary commitment by manufacturers to provide healthier and more environmentally friendly products.
The challenges of clean label for consumers
Meeting consumer expectations regarding composition
Today’s consumers are highly vigilant about the origin and composition of the foods they consume. Food crises in recent decades have prompted them to scrutinize the contents of their meals.
This concern is reflected in the growing use of mobile apps designed to verify the nutritional quality of food products. However, these technologies have limitations, as they do not always consider scientific research and their results can vary from one application to another.
To address this issue, many food industry professionals have committed to revising the composition of their products and manufacturing processes. They then highlight the Clean Label concept to affirm their resolutions to consumers.
Providing transparency on food origin and manufacturing processes
Manufacturers adopting the Clean Label approach must strive to provide buyers with transparent information about the origin and manufacturing processes of their food products. This information should be clear on product packaging and communicated more broadly by the company.
Ingredient lists must be readable and understandable by non-expert consumers. Labels such as “organic product,” “natural product,” or “GMO-free” must adhere to strict legal guidelines. The use of a natural substitute to replace a specific additive (such as celery broth instead of nitrite salts) must be clearly stated, as emphasized in September 2018 by the European technical committee ScoPAFF (“Standing Committee for Plant, Animal Food, and Feed”).
Three challenges faced by food manufacturers committed to clean label
Rigorous sourcing
Selecting raw materials is a key element behind the Clean Label approach. Many manufacturers turn to locally sourced and/or organic ingredients. Some also establish partnerships with farmers and producers committed to environmental stewardship.
At Valorex Food, for example, we rely on local raw materials for our Clean Label commitment. Our oil-protein flours are sourced from French supply chains.
We work to implement a sustainable and rational production model that respects the land, animals, and people. This commitment is reflected in our co-founding of the Bleu-Blanc-Cœur association, which promotes food industry actors dedicated to offering high-quality nutritional products and practicing environmentally respectful agriculture.
Avoiding artificial ingredients
Eliminating additives is one of the major challenges of Clean Label. Additives serve specific functions and are not always easy to replace. Some improve texture, extend shelf life, or mitigate microbial risks. Finding natural and alternative solutions to preserve the nutritional qualities of products is essential.
For our part, we use no additives or chemicals. We support our clients’ Clean Label initiatives by offering nutri-functional ingredients, such as the T-Lin texturant. This is a yellow flaxseed flour whose mucilages (soluble fibers) provide emulsifying and thickening properties. They also enhance binding and water retention.
The properties of this flour enable our clients to reformulate recipes by removing additives while benefiting from its omega-3 richness.
Highlighting nutritional qualities through respectful processing
Clean Label industries must also commit to using manufacturing processes that respect raw materials and reveal their nutritional potential.
At Valorex Food, our seeds are processed solely through mechanical grinding and cooking to preserve their benefits. For example, the omega-3 bioavailability of flaxseed increases to 85% when processed using our patented method (compared to 40% when simply ground) and only 15% when consumed whole.
Furthermore, our processes ensure toxin-free foods, secure against microbial contamination (thanks to the destruction of endogenous microorganisms), and with extended shelf life (18 months for flaxseed flour, for instance). We collaborate with scientists to deliver healthy products with high nutritional value.
Clean Label reflects manufacturers’ commitment to offering healthy, quality foods. It addresses nutritional, health, animal welfare, environmental, and producer partnership concerns.
At Valorex Food, our Clean Label commitment encompasses sourcing raw materials from French production, emphasizing the nutritional quality of our products, and using transformative processes that reveal their benefits, particularly their omega-3 richness. Our products also serve as natural alternatives to certain additives, helping you provide healthy, nutritious foods to your customers without artificial allergens.
