Frost & Sullivan: A New Trend In Food Additives, Blending Antioxidants To Cut Costs

LONDON, Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Revenues generated by natural antioxidants in the European shelf-life extension food additives market are set to exceed those of synthetic equivalents, mainly due to the rising consumer preference for natural ingredients in food products. A new trend has emerged, however, due to spiralling commodity prices and raw material shortages. Manufacturers have started to blend different antioxidants to minimize cost.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan ( http://www.food.frost.com), Analysis of the European Shelf-life Extension Food Additives Market, forecasts the market to more than double in coming years, from revenues of $103.6 million in 2011 to $246.1 million in 2018. The research covers natural antioxidants including vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) and herbal extracts (rosemary extract) as well as synthetic antioxidants such as hindered phenols, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), gallates (propyl gallates), and ascorbyl palmitate.

Consumer perception that natural products are healthy, has underlined the significant shift toward the use of more natural antioxidants such as mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) and rosemary extracts, rather than synthetic antioxidants.

"However, naturally derived antioxidants are experiencing a huge rise in price," noted Frost & Sullivan Chemicals, Materials and Foods Research Analyst Ashwin Raj Ravinder. "As a result, the trend of blending different antioxidants is gaining appeal."

Blending allows suppliers to partially replace natural antioxidants. The process includes blending rosemary extracts, for example, with mixed tocopherols and ascorbyl palmitate, which is synthetic. Blending antioxidants provides a less expensive product of equal quality and efficacy. 

Raw materials needed to manufacture antioxidants are scarce, which affects the natural Vitamin E segment. The reduced volume production of mixed tocopherols, results in a prevalence of alternate sources due to price increases.

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