Category: Dietary ingredients

While malt is a common ingredient in many foods and beverages, some individuals can experience adverse reactions to it. So, is malt flavor an allergen? The answer is nuanced, as it depends on the source grain and whether the reaction is a true immune-mediated allergy or a non-allergic intolerance.

Approximately half of the world's gelatin is sourced from pig by-products, but the second most common source is cattle. Bovine gelatin is a protein-rich substance derived from cows, prized for its versatile gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties in a multitude of applications.

Gelatin is a protein derived from animal collagen, and a surprising number of everyday foods contain it, from candies to canned meats. This versatile ingredient acts as a gelling agent, thickener, and stabilizer in many products.

According to the National Institutes of Health, L-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body cannot produce it on its own and must obtain it through dietary sources. This critical fact confirms that, in its L-form, phenylalanine is indeed a natural ingredient found in protein-rich foods.

While some nutritional labels show total carbohydrates for pea starch at over 85 grams per 100-gram serving, this number can be misleading. So, is pea starch high in carbs in a way that negatively impacts blood sugar? The answer lies in how the body processes its unique resistant starch profile.

While many Premier Protein products are sweetened with artificial ingredients, some formulas do contain stevia leaf extract, meaning the answer depends on the specific product. This distinction is crucial for ingredient-conscious consumers, who must examine the product's label to be certain of its contents.

While the term 'modified milk ingredients' may sound synthetic, they are often just natural milk components that have been separated and concentrated for various purposes. A 2017 McGill University report confirmed that the use of these processed milk components generally poses no health issues. This raises the important question: are modified milk ingredients harmful, or is their negative reputation simply a misunderstanding?

Derived from the enzymatic conversion of tapioca starch, tapioca solids are a gluten-free and allergen-friendly carbohydrate used widely in the food industry. As consumers increasingly seek clean-label ingredients, understanding what is tapioca solids is key to making informed dietary choices for better nutrition.

Extracted from potatoes and refined into a white, powdery substance, potato starch is primarily composed of carbohydrates. Beyond being a simple thickener, the raw form of potato starch is a potent source of resistant starch, a special type of fiber with significant health benefits for your gut microbiome.

Pop-Tarts are primarily known for their high sugar content, not sugar alcohols like xylitol. Given the rise in sugar-free products, consumers often ask, "Do Pop-Tarts have xylitol in them?". The answer is not always simple and requires a close look at the specific product's ingredients, though standard versions do not contain it.