Fish meat, either fresh or frozen, is a natural source of nutrients such as proteins and fatty acids Omega-3 and contains important nutritional values for a healthy diet.
The global consumption records 3% annual growth and it is expected to increase + 20% up to 2025.
The consumers are increasingly aware, and cautious, about the quality which is brought at the table. Besides, people are sensitive to the environment, privileging products made by responsible and sustainable fishing industries.
On top of that, the demand exceeds the offer and manufacturers are required to tackle with new opportunities and challenges.
Processing fish, thus encouraging low value cuts and improving the yield of the finished products, while keeping on high quality level, can be the proper answer to this trend.
Unlike traditional fillets, restructured products -provide that they are additives, preservatives and allergens (gluten..) free- offer many advantages.
They can perfectly respond to the actual customer’s needs, which are driven by health, convenience and clean-labelling.
Fish burgers are probably the most common restructured fish products, but these products quite often are too hard or dry or, on the contrary, have a weak-texture: they easily flake off and de-mold during cooking, or result in poor mouthfeel.
To improve the quality of these references, our Belgian represented Cosucra (link) offers Swelite®. It’s a natural pea fiber and a functional solution, mainly composed of fibers with a natural content of starch.
Among the unique properties of this fiber, we can mention:
– Clean label ingredient, GMO-free, allergen free, no lactose and gluten;
– Odorless and colorless;
– High water retention;
– Good fat stabilizer;
– Juicy texture (but not wet!) and improved consistency of the final products;
– Excellent filler and/or binder, optimizing the quality with really appreciable results.
Swelite®, unlike many other functional ingredients, has also a positive impact on the cost-formula.
In order to promote the use of the Swelite® in fish restructured products, Cosucra makes available to the customer some recipes: fish hamburgers, fish fingers, cutlets, spreads and pâtès, in which this fiber is properly used for different aims.
Want to discover more? Don’t hesitate to contact us! (link contacts)
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