Texture: The Key to Success in Food & Beverage
Why Clean Label Ingredients Make All The Difference
Texture has taken front & center stage in the evolving world of food & beverage formulation. Consumers are actively searching for multi-sensory experiences when indulging, otherwise known as food experiences.
In food and beverage, texture often mimics sensations like pop, crisp, chew, crunch and melt. From the structured bite of a dense protein bar to the creamy consistency of plant based yogurt, texture is undeniably memorable. These textural complexities provide consumers with elevated eating experiences, and in many cases, it’s often what drives a repeat purchase.
Clean Label Solutions: The Era of Reformulation
As regulatory changes and clean label trends continue to drive growth, formulators are faced with ongoing reformulation efforts. Replicating desirable textures without ingredients like gums, fillers and synthetic additives can be challenging.
Plant proteins, native starches, functional sweeteners and plant based lecithin are some of the ingredients capable of replicating the textural complexity of many synthetic agents.
Strategically combining these ingredients with others promotes a shift that isn’t just about substitutions, but about innovating with purpose.
Let’s explore how these Organic & Non-GMO ingredients are helping serve as clean label texture solutions across modern food and beverage formulations.
Plant Proteins: Clean Label Texture Builders
Protein is more than just a nutritional powerhouse. Protein is a dynamic texture builder that contributes mouthfeel, chew and stability to various formulations. Plant proteins, in particular, deliver unique textural functionality that impact food and beverage outcomes differently.
Austrade’s variety of Organic & Non-GMO Plant Proteins are free from carriers and additives, and serve as excellent solutions for clean label texture.
- Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free Oat Protein adds smooth viscosity, a clean mouthfeel and neutral flavor to applications. Oat protein is a versatile choice for gluten-free baked goods and dairy alternatives.
- Organic & Non-GMO Pea Protein is known for its high protein content and neutral taste. Yellow pea protein offers textural complexity to gluten-free baked goods, beverages, meat alternatives, sauces & extruded snacks. It also serves as an excellent protein source for consumers with food allergies or dietary restrictions due to its hypoallergenic nature.
- Organic & Non-GMO Pumpkin Protein is naturally rich in fiber and nutrients. Available in Roasted and Unroasted, pumpkin protein contributes a dense bite and unique flavor to bars, beverages and baked goods.
- Organic Heliaflor® Sunflower Proteins are a proprietary group of offerings that deliver exceptional functionality from emulsification to water-binding. Products enhance creaminess and protein content in formulations while maintaining a neutral odor and flavor.
- Heliaflor® 55 adds an extra layer of functionality by enhancing additional applications such as dough, baked goods, and meat alternatives.
- Heliaflor® Cereals are an excellent clean label option for crisp inclusions in snack bars, protein balls and trail-mix blends.
- Heliaflor® Haché is a mono-ingredient meat alternative product made from 100% organic sunflower seeds. This product replicates meat-like products, and tastes as good as Grandma’s homemade meatball recipe.
- Organic & Non-GMO Wheat Germ Flakes are nutritious and delicious nutrient-dense particles that add a desirable crunch to various food formulations. This product is ideal for cereals, granola clusters, and a variety of snack applications.
- Organic & Non-GMO White Rice Protein improves structure in plant based formulations and gluten-free baked goods. This product is a hypoallergenic, highly digestible protein source, and is suitable for consumers with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Native Starches: Clean Label Thickeners That Perform
Starches are the basis of many texture systems in the food and beverage industry. Native starches are minimally processed and offer higher purity compared to modified starches. Native starch provides texture without compromising a product’s clean label.
Austrade offers a selection of Organic & Non-GMO Native Starches that are natural, functional and free from chemical modification.
- Organic Native Potato Starch is an ideal plant based alternative to gelatin and modified starches. This product is excellent for thickening and binding, and acts as a crisping agent in extruded products. Its high clarity and neutral flavor make organic potato starch highly versatile, from soups to snacks.
- Non-GMO Native Corn Starch is a staple clean label thickener across industries. Native corn starch is known for building viscosity, and for its strong resistance to heat. This product is ideal for sauces, puddings, custards, and dairy alternatives where consistent gel strength is necessary.
- Organic & Non-GMO Native Rice Starch is a pure, odorless powder with very fine granularity. It has low viscosity and is used in various applications from confectionery coatings to ready-to-eat meals. Native rice starch acts as an excellent stabilizer, excipient and thickener and is often used as a fat replacer in fat-free formulations.
- Organic & Non-GMO Wheat Starch is an unmodified plant-based starch that provides a light crispness to snacks and baked goods. It also contributes a desirable bite to noodles and confectionery applications. Organic Gluten-Free Wheat Starch is also available by request.
Clean Label Sweeteners: Texture Beyond Sweetness
Sweeteners are known for contributing the obvious (sweetness) to a variety of food and beverage applications. They also have the ability to take on important functional and structural roles in food & beverage systems.
Dextrose Monohydrate and Crystalline Fructose are two clean label sweeteners that are produced to combine easily with other ingredients. They both support cleaner formulations without sacrificing texture or performance.
Austrade offers a selection of Organic & Non-GMO Sweeteners that provide functionality far beyond sweetening power.
- Organic & Non-GMO Dextrose Monohydrate is a fast-dissolving crystalline powder that is derived from 100% corn. It delivers a quick burst of energy with about 20-30% less sweetness than sugar. Dextrose’s humectant properties aid in moisture retention while crystallization control aids in baked goods, confectionery, and beverages.
- Non-GMO Crystalline Fructose is a nutritive, clean label sweetener derived from 100% beet sugar. Crystalline fructose offers a low GI-score of around 20, a superior clean taste, and is sweeter than sucrose. This nutritive sweetener also helps modulate freezing points in frozen desserts, while improving mouthfeel in fruit-based products and beverages.
The Winning Formula: Texture & Clean Labels
Texture is where emotion meets science, and where sensory satisfaction comes into play. Sensory satisfaction is the crunchy, satisfying bite, and the smooth & creamy mouthfeel that creates memorable eating and drinking experiences. Brand loyalty follows naturally when consumers experience memorable interactions. In 2025, however, brand loyalty requires more than sensory satisfaction alone to drive a repeat purchase.
The brand differentiator: next-gen formulations that optimize texture and functionality with clean label synergy.
At Austrade Inc, we supply Certified Organic and Non-GMO solutions that deliver texture across applications. Our team supports product formulation with decades of expertise, a reliable supply chain, and a strong commitment to clean label ingredients.
Let’s Build Better Texture, Together
Whether your brand is launching a new innovation or improving an existing one, our team is available for support. Our unique portfolio of functional, clean label plant-based ingredients deliver on texture, taste and full transparency.
Explore Austrade’s full ingredient portfolio or contact our team to learn more about how we can best support your formulation goals.