CarobWay™, Ltd., an innovative FoodTech start-up, is set to introduce its clean-label, low glycemic index (GI) sweetener at the IFT FIRST 2023 event in Chicago. The company will showcase the sweetener’s versatility through gummi and energy bar prototypes, demonstrating its potential in various food applications.
The sweetener, derived from the whole carob fruit, is part of CarobWay’s mission to bring the nutritional benefits of this ancient fruit to modern consumers. The product not only offers sweetness but also promotes overall well-being.
Udi Alroy, CEO and co-founder of CarobWay highlights the sweetener’s natural and holistic qualities. “Our natural sugar replacer provides a holistic solution based on all the goodness found in carob,” Alroy states. “Thanks to our extensive dendrological research, we chose specific varieties of the carob tree that grow locally and whose fruit provides a mild, pleasing caramel flavor.”
Unlike many carob sweeteners that can have a faint bitter note, CarobWay’s sweetener is clean and flavorful. The zero-waste sweetener is made from deseeded pods and is available as syrup.
CarobWay is committed to living in harmony with our planet and its inhabitants. The company runs a vertically integrated operation from farm to fork, adhering to fair-trade practices and ensuring a stable supply chain. The company uses the entire fruit—seeds, and pulp—to create innovative ingredients for food, food supplements, and cosmetics, with efficacy backed by science.
The novel sweetener’s unique composition includes various sugars, the polyol D-pinitol, trace soluble fibers, and polyphenols. D-Pinitol, a naturally occurring compound found in plants, particularly in carob fruit, has been reported to have numerous bioactive and wellness benefits. Research has shown that people who consumed D-pinitol-rich carob syrup and powder had lower blood glucose levels than the control group. The compound also shows promise as an active anti-Alzheimer, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agent, and it supports immunity and liver health.
The FoodTech Start-up conducted a bioavailability study using the SHIME® in vitro model, a dynamic simulation system that mimics the conditions and functionality of the human digestive system. The study demonstrated that D-pinitol is highly bioavailable, while the other carob sugars are absorbed slowly.
“Consumers are seeking clean CPG products that are better for you and kind to the planet,” adds Alroy. “CarobWay’s sweetener is a natural, single ingredient to help food and beverage companies to attain a cleaner label for their products. We welcome visitors to IFT to taste our sweetener in various applications and discover the full benefits of CarobWay sweetener. It can replace up to 100% of the sugars in the energy bar and about 40% in gummies. Both demonstration products are plant-based and non-GMO, appealing to consumers who want an enjoyable, purposeful treat.”
Image provided by CarobWay
