Getting to know the 4 raw materials in the confectionery and food industry

CMC 

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or cellulose gum is a cellulose derivative with carboxymethyl groups (-CH2-COOH) bound to some of the hydroxyl groups of the glucopyranose monomers that make up the cellulose backbone.  The main raw material of CMC is refined cotton and wood pulp. It can easily dissolve in cold and hot water and has a maximum yield, making it the most widely and conveniently used among all cellulose products.  

CMC is used in a variety of industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In the food industry, it is used as a food stabilizer. CMC powder is widely used in the ice cream industry to make ice creams without churning or extremely low temperatures, thereby eliminating the need for conventional churners or salt ice mixes. It is also used in baking breads and cakes. In the pharmaceutical industry, CMC is an acronym for chemistry, manufacturing, and controls which are crucial activities when developing new pharmaceutical products.  

CMC has many uses due to its unique properties such as its ability to easily dissolve in cold and hot water and has a maximum yield. It can also improve the texture of products by increasing moisture retention. 

Beta Caroten 

Beta-carotene is a valuable food additive that is used as an orange-red pigment in many products, including non-thermally treated non-alcoholic beverages with a taste of tropical fruits, edible fats, cheese, pastry, and ice cream. It is widely used as a colorant by food processing industries such as confectionary, dairy, packaged foods, and beverages to give food and beverages an appetizing yellow or orange-red color. 

Beta-carotene has many health benefits such as promoting healthy skin and mucus membranes, our immune system, and good eye health and vision. It has a potent antioxidant capacity and offers an array of health benefits such as lowering the risk of heart diseases and certain types of cancers, enhancing the immune system, and protection from age-related macular degeneration—the leading cause of irreversible blindness among adults. Beta-carotene may also help boost your skin’s health. 

Beta-carotene can be used in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, health & personal care products, agriculture/animal feed/poultry as a coloring agent and a source of vitamin A. Beta carotene may help to maintain the normal function of the macula, support lung health, support sun exposure, support exercise and support muscle. It may also help to prevent certain cancers, heart disease, cataracts, aging skin. 

Sodium citrate 

Sodium citrate is used in the food and beverage industry as a pH control agent, a chelating agent to increase the action of antioxidants and prevent spoilage of food, and as a preservative¹. It is also used as a flavoring agent. 

Sodium citrate has many uses in various industries such as food, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. It is used as a pH adjuster and water softener in personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, facial moisturizer, makeup, baby wipes, liquid laundry detergent, and soap. In the food industry, it is used as an acidity regulator and emulsifier for oils. It is also used as an anticoagulant for blood and to prevent curdling of milk. Sodium citrate can also be used to make urine less acidic and prevent certain kinds of kidney stones. 

GLYCERIN 

Glycerin is widely used in the food industry as a humectant, solvent, sweetener, and may help preserve foods. It is also used as a filler in commercially prepared low-fat foods such as cookies and as a thickening agent in liqueurs. Most dried fruits have glycerin added during processing to attract moisture so they don’t become brittle over time. 

Glycerin is used in a variety of food and drink products, including various beverages, energy bars, cake, icings, soft candies, chewing gum, condiments, creams, diet foods, dried fruits, fondant, fudge, and marshmallows. Food-grade glycerin is often used as a humectant (wetting agent), thickener, solvent, or sweetener to dairy products. It can also be used as a preservative and as a sugar substitute. 
 

Glycerin is used in the food industry as a sweetener and preservative. It is also used in liqueurs as a thickening agent. It is not uncommon for glycerin to be used as a filler in low-fat food items such as cookies. Another important use of glycerin in the medical and pharmaceutical industries is as a lubricant and humectant. 

If you need any of these 4 materials or other food industry raw materials, contact Maple Chemical.