Industry leader says it has ample supply of FDA-approved alternative to stabilize beverages

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WHITE MARSH, MD – August 10, 2010 – TIC Gums is advising customers that ester of wood rosin remains the better choice to stabilize fruit-flavored beverages, in light of safety questions raised about gum rosin.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last month warned there are not enough toxicology and other studies to allow the use of gum rosin as a replacement for wood rosin in beverages. Wood rosin is a fully approved alternative by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

"Companies considering gum rosin as a substitute should be wary of such a substitution, in light of the European safety group's announcement,” says Mat O’Connor, TIC Gums director of global procurement. “We at TIC Gums want to reassure our customers and others that wood rosin remains the most effective and most tested stabilizer for beverages like lemonade and citrus soft drinks."

TIC Gums’ product line includes Hercules^® Ester Gum, a food-grade glycerol ester of wood rosin (GEWR) that is an effective weighting agent for adjusting the density of citrus oils and improving stability in beverages. 

The EFSA evaluated the safety of glycerol esters of gum rosin (GEGR) after receiving a petition to approve the use of the additive in certain beverage applications.

A U.S.-based manufacturer had sought approval to use GEGR, claiming the ingredient is similar in characterization and technological function to GEWR, currently authorized for use in Europe.

That manufacturer had argued the component resin acids in gum rosin, derived from living pine trees, are identical to those in the wood rosin, made from aged pine stumps. It also maintained the purity and technological functions of GEGR and GEWR are identical.

However, the EFSA said there was insufficient data to support these claims.

For more information on TIC Gums’ GEWR products, Hercules Ester Gum 8BG or 8BG-HS, and our full line of hydrocolloids and gum systems, visit www.ticgums.com.

About TIC Gums

TIC Gums is a global leader of advanced texture and stabilization solutions for the food industry. Food and beverage companies rely on us to improve the texture, stability, consistency, nutritional profile and shelf appeal of their products. Our legendary customer service, high quality standards and the unrivaled knowledge of our Gum Gurus^® has made TIC Gums the industry leader for more than 100 years.

Simplify and speed up batch production and add crunch to confection coatings at IFT booth #6029  

CHICAGO IL – June 29, 2010  – TIC Gums is combining hands-on demonstrations of new textures and technologies with on-site expertise at this year’s IFT (Institute of Food Technologists) Annual Meeting and Food Expo.

Bench top mixers will be set up at the TIC Gums booth (#6029), with visitors invited to see how FASTir^® Xanthan EC, a food grade xanthan gum, dissolves in water, under minimal agitation. TIC Gums also will spotlight its TicaPAN™ Quick Crunch – and give out gumballs! – to introduce this ideal system for sugar and sugar alcohol syrups used in confectionery coating and hard panning.

Also on hand will be the company’s Gum Gurus^®, leading food scientists specializing in finding solutions to texture and stabilization problems, and a special appearance by the company’s mascot and icon, the Gum Guru^® himself.

“This is one of the most important food science forums and expositions in the world and the perfect backdrop to showcase our latest innovations and underscore our ongoing commitment to customer service,” says TIC Gums President, Greg Andon.

In a dramatic demonstration, IFT visitors will see for themselves that FASTir hydrates and disperses more quickly than powdered xanthan. TIC Gums developed FASTir technology to address the issues that challenge most manufacturers. Many gums tend to lump when added to water and the lumps delay hydration. This causes longer batch times and creates rework due to viscosity and rheology issues.

FASTir technology makes using gums quicker and easier than ever before. And since xanthan gum is a source of common dispersion and hydration issues, TIC Gums made FASTir Xanthan EC the first gum commercialized using the new FASTir process.

Also at the IFT show, TIC Gums will spotlight its TicaPAN™ Quick Crunch with samples of gumballs made using this new coating system, which gives panned confections the extra crunch consumers like.

Confectionery and chewing gum manufacturers are well aware of the added benefit of a crunchier shell. According to The Flavor Bible, authored by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, crunchiness is an important component in mouth feel, contributing a combined sensation of pleasing texture with the accompanying sound of vigorous and prolonged chewing. These attributes define many ‘fun’ foods, such as confections, novelty and functional chewing gums, and cake icings with innovative and enticing textures.  

In addition to cost and production time savings, the line of TicaPAN Coating Systems is an alternative to gum Arabic derived from local materials with non-gmo
grades available.

About TIC Gums

TIC Gums is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of advanced hydrocolloids and gum systems. Food and beverage companies rely on TIC Gums to improve the texture, stability, consistency, nutritional profile and shelf appeal of their products. The company’s legendary customer service, high quality standards and the unrivaled knowledge of its Gum Gurus has made TIC Gums the industry leader for more than 100 years.

Results of Extensive Safe Quality Food (SQF) Audit Spotlights TIC Gums’ Overall Excellence

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WHITE MARSH, MD – June 7, 2010 – In an exhaustive audit of the company’s manufacturing practices, food security measures, and virtually every function of its operations, TIC Gums achieved a near-perfect 99% rating.

The Safe Quality Food (SQF) audit focuses on food safety, security and quality, and is accredited as one of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) audit schemes now being required by major food interests, including retail giant Walmart.

In 2008, Walmart became the first national U.S. grocery chain to require suppliers of its private label and other food products to have their factories certified against one of the internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards. The standards are supported by the food industry as a whole.

TIC Gums pursued level 3 SQF certification, “the most inclusive and difficult to achieve,” says Ian Sklar, director of quality and regulatory affairs.

Sklar notes that TIC Gums recently completed the final phase of the four-and-a-half day SQF audit, which involved documentation reviews, physical plant inspections, employee interviews, and system reviews. Preparation for the audit lasted months and included the development of entirely new programs and protocols, documentation and practices.

Implementation of the SQF programs involved almost every function of the company, says Sklar, and had to be completed on an abbreviated time schedule to meet demands.

“Thanks to every TIC Gums’ employee’s hard work and dedication, we achieved this outstanding 99% rating,” says Sklar.

He adds the company will maintain the same high level of compliance and dedication to food safety and quality systems “in order to ensure the continued safety and quality of our products and the health and success of the company.”

The audit was submitted to review by the certifier and TIC Gums has just received the official audit certificate which can be requested from the company.

“The goal of any audit is not only to pass, but to validate our current systems and to look for opportunities for improvement,” says Sklar. As with any audit, he adds, annual re-certification/surveillance audits will be required to maintain certification.

TIC Gums is a global leader of advanced texture and stabilization solutions for the food industry. Food and beverage companies rely on us to improve the texture, stability, consistency, nutritional profile and shelf appeal of their products. Our legendary customer service, high quality standards and the unrivaled knowledge of our Gum Gurus^® has made TIC Gums the industry leader for more than 100 years.  

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Readers’ Choice Awards from Food Processing Magazine Awards TIC Gums

WHITE MARSH, MD – February 19, 2010 – TIC Gums is pleased to announce that it has received a Gold Supplier Award in the latest Readers' Choice Awards from Food Processing magazine. TIC Gums was named Gold Supplier for the Gums category.

Since 2004, Food Processing has conducted the Readers’ Choice Awards as an "unaided survey" sent to over 25,000 readers asking if they could only choose one supplier, what supplier they would prefer in a number of different product categories. The recipients of the online survey represent all food and beverage categories, all size companies and titles.

This is the sixth consecutive year TIC Gums has been given a Gold Supplier award in the Gums category.    

Full and final EU approval of TICAmulsion^® A-2010 Powder is anticipated by 2011

White Marsh, MD, April  30, 2010 -  “TIC Gums welcomes the initial determination of the European Commission Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources regarding their approval of TIC Gums’ TICAmulsion^® A-2010, the company’s modified gum acacia, as a safe and effective emulsifier for use in various foods and beverages in Europe. We’re on our way to achieving complete worldwide approvals of our innovation,” stated Stacy VanDenHeuvel, Marketing Specialist at TIC Gums.

VanDenHeuvel underscored that TICAmulsion A-2010 is a patented product exclusively available from TIC Gums. “It’s significant that our modified gum acacia performs better than natural gum arabic, while also providing excellent stability in beverage and flavor emulsions that contain more than 20% oil content. Its ability to effectively emulsify high oil loads makes it a unique tool for formulators in a variety of applications such as beverages & flavor and nutritional oil emulsions,” she said.