Two years ago, the Swiss company Nutra Produkte AG presented its natural, plant-based films for the meat processing industry. Since then, the Nutrafil line of edible and biologically degradable films is enjoying increasing demand. Now, the company has just marketed a new edible, plant-based sausage casing.
Plant-based sausage casings
During recent years, Nutra Produkte AG has continually developed its starch-based edible films for hams and formed products. Its “spice films” – marketed in North America for the last several months – are used for cooked ham and other products such as chicken breast. This film is a natural, edible film coated with spices. The film dissolves during processing and the desired spice mixture remains on the surface of the meat. This new product is designed to be adaptable to the special requirements of an application or to particular customer desires. It dissolves either in warm or cold water and can be manufactured with special additives such as antioxidants, antibacterial substances or fungus retardants. Its degree of permeability can also be individually adjusted to ensure good smoking characteristics.
Polymer sausage casings
Most recently, however, the company’s research and development activities have focused on manufacturing an edible polymer-based sausage casing that is entirely plant-based. Just like the classic Nutrafilm or the “spice film”, the edible, plant-based casing (NutraCasing) is designed to replace animal-based casings. After extensive lab tests, the casing formulation has been further optimized. In a second step, the gathered casing was adapted to meet the characteristics required for mass production of diverse types of sausages. According to the Swiss company, the casing recently went into use under standard production conditions with selected partners, where it has proved itself well. The new casing will soon be introduced on the market. Nutra Produkte AG outlines the advantages of its Nutra-Casings under the aspects of manufacture, functionality and processing:
-The edible casing is manufactured in the identical form and caliber as collagen casings and conforms to standard industry products. The gathered casing is suitable for current manufacturing processes, requiring no new investments for new or additional machines.
-NutraCasing gives sausage mixtures a uniform surface appearance and texture. The mixture is neither discolored nor modified. Test consumers confirm that the product has a tender bite with no unpleasant texture attributes.
-The plant-based casing retains its form after filling, with no lengthening or distortion.
-NutraCasing contains no ingredients considered to be allergenic. The casing formulation can be changed by the use of various polymers that give the casing special characteristics and functions.
-The new product can be modified with many secondary products including natural antibacterial components, natural colorants or antioxidants.
-The casings are considered both natural and edible, making them excellent for vegetarian products.
-The casing formulation can be adapted so that the casing dissolves during the cooking process. This is ideal for sausage products without skin.
-After thorough examination by responsible rabbis, the manufacturer is convinced that NutraCasing will receive a kosher status.
No matter whether a sausage is peeled, eaten cold with the skin, cooked or grilled, NutraCasing is designed to suit every product type.