59: Has COVID-19 threatened to de-stabilise the clean label movement?

As the effects of COVID-19 are starting to show, will this force consumers to shift to cheaper, chemically modified ingredients & additives? Or, will the pandemic make consumers be more mindful in what they eat, leading to greater transparency in products? The latest Table Talk Podcast looks at the impact COVID-19 may have on the clean label movement. Join one of the founders of Ulrick & Short, Adrian Short, and their R&D Manager, Danni Schroeter, as they discuss the origins of the clean-label movement, what the future of food transparency looks like, new trends on the horizon, and if clean-label itself will survive COVID-19. About Ulrick & Short Based in the UK & Holland, Ulrick & Short have been at the forefront of clean-label ingredient technologies for 20 years, designing & manufacturing clean-label starches, flours, fibres & proteins for all food sectors. They offer industry leading expertise & technical support to food manufacturers across the world – www.cleanlabelingredients.com. About our panel Adrian Short, Co-Owner and Director, Ulrick & Short Back in the late 90’s Andrew Ulrick and Adrian Short could see what was then the niche category of ‘Clean Label Ingredients’ was going to become mainstream. With that in mind they combined their experience and expertise in ingredients, cereals and crops with application knowledge across all processed foods and founded Ulrick & Short Limited with a view to developing functional clean label ingredients for food manufacturers. Now in its 20th Year Ulrick & Short has established itself as the leading British owned company in this field. Manufacturing in five countries around the world utilising crops such as Wheat, Tapioca, Waxy Maize, Rice & Potato we have created a unique range of starches , fibres and proteins with a whole host of functions for all processed foods, supplying them to food manufacturers in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, The Benelux countries and even as far Australia. Ulrick & Short offer food manufacturers the opportunity to simplify their ingredient declaration, improve nutritional profiles and remove unwanted allergens without compromising eating experience and maintaining stability and textural requirements. Danni Schroeter, R&D Manager, Ulrick & Short Danni Schroeter, R&D manager, has been at Ulrick & Short for the past seven years, concentrating on new ingredients and product innovation. Her most recent focus has been on sugar & egg replacement in a range of applications as well as researching and developing vegan and allergen free solutions. Danni, a chemistry Graduate from Leeds University is currently studying for a MSc in Food, Nutrition and Health – to further enhance her understanding of the functionality different ingredients bring to a product.