Utilizing a new ingredient in the DuPontT Danisco range, manufacturers can obtain all the functionality they need without mixing in other additives. The gelling ingredient is GRINDSTED GELLAN MAS 100 - otherwise known as gellan gum - and is the label-friendly stabilizer for non-dairy beverages made with pulses, grains, nuts and plant-derived protein.

Previously produced by DuPont for ingredient systems, it is now available as a single ingredient for the first time. "The main driver is the demand for dairy-free drinks for lactose-intolerant consumers. According to the latest market intelligence, close to 25% of European consumers are reducing or avoiding dairy products in their diet for health reasons," says Jean-Baptiste Dufeu, DuPont global product manager. "Our ingredient enables manufacturers to respond to this trend by stabilizing particles in plant-based beverages and creating a refreshingly smooth texture. Consumers experience a refreshing drink with an authentic flavor profile."

Market analysts at Euromonitor and Innova Market Insights have registered an explosion in sales of plant-based drinks. In 2016, sales in Western Europe alone reached USD1.5 billion. Soy beverages accounted for around USD1 billion of those sales - a dominant position that is now being challenged by the rise of drinks based on rice, almond and oats.