In today’s food industry, the demand for natural food protection solutions is higher than ever. Consumers want cleaner labels, sustainable packaging, longer-lasting products, and effective natural preservatives—all without compromising on taste or quality. At Kalsec, our experts are at the forefront of innovation in natural food protection, helping manufacturers navigate these challenges while optimizing shelf life.
We recently sat down with David Johnson, Director of R&D Innovation in Europe, and Gareth Jones, Product Manager for Food Protection, to get their insights into the latest trends, challenges, and breakthroughs in shelf life extension. Here’s what they had to say.
The Evolving Landscape of Food Protection
Q: What major trends are shaping food protection today?
David: Sustainability is becoming a major focus in food protection. More companies are looking for protection solutions that complement sustainable packaging while maintaining product quality. And for consumers, they are not only concerned with reducing food waste but also with how their food is made and packaged. That means we need solutions that extend shelf life while working harmoniously with environmentally friendly packaging materials.
Natural antioxidants play a crucial role in this, ensuring that products stay fresh longer—even as packaging materials shift towards more sustainable options like compostable or recyclable options.
Gareth: At the same time, we’re seeing a strong push to avoid E numbers (additives labeled under the European food classification system) in favor of clean label solutions. This presents a challenge for formulators trying to balance consumer expectations with the need for effective food protection.
Why Shelf Life Matters for Food & Beverage Brands
Q: How does a shorter shelf life impact food and beverage products?
David: It creates logistical challenges. When products have a short shelf life, they have a limited transportation window and shorter retail availability. This increases the risk of waste at both the retail and consumer levels. Longer shelf life allows for better supply chain efficiency, reduces food waste, and ultimately helps brands meet sustainability goals.
The Challenges of Protecting Different Food Categories
Q: Are there certain foods or ingredients that are harder to maintain in terms of shelf life and quality?
Gareth: Absolutely. Clean label products, such as snacks in sustainable packaging and baked goods made without conventional ingredients to preserve foods quality, present unique challenges. While these formulations align with consumer demand for simpler ingredient lists, they often lack key ingredients that help maintain freshness, making them more prone to oxidation and microbial spoilage.
David: Plant-based products are another great example. Because they contain nutrient-dense ingredients, they require a combination of antioxidant and antimicrobial protection to ensure long-term quality. Encouragingly, our recent global clean label research shows that consumers most associate the term "natural" with clean labels. By incorporating natural antioxidants like Herbalox and natural antimicrobials, manufacturers can meet consumer expectations while effectively addressing shelf life and quality challenges.
Advancements in Shelf Life Extension Technologies
Q: What new techniques are emerging in shelf life extension?
David: High-pressure processing (HPP) is gaining traction because it extends shelf life without relying on synthetic preservatives. This method uses extreme pressure to control bacteria while maintaining a clean label status.
Gareth: On the ingredient side, we’re seeing innovation in natural antioxidant blends, like rosemary extract and plant-based solutions. These alternatives often perform just as well—if not better—than synthetic antioxidants.
How Longer Shelf Life Reduces Food Waste & Improves Sustainability
Q: How does extended shelf life help reduce food waste?
Gareth: It plays a critical role at every stage of the supply chain. Longer-lasting products mean less waste during transportation and storage for manufacturers and retailers. And for consumers, foods that stay fresher for longer reduces spoilage at home.
Q: How does shelf life extension help brands meet their sustainability goals?
David: Beyond reducing waste, longer shelf life improves resource efficiency. It allows for larger production runs with fewer cleaning cycles, meaning less water and chemical use. It also improves logistics by enabling larger shipments and fewer transport trips, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These improvements are not only good for the planet but also for the brand’s bottom line as costs are reduced and risks of recalls and markdowns are reduced.
Kalsec’s Latest Shelf Life Innovations
Q: What new solutions is Kalsec bringing to the table?
David: One of our latest innovations is DuraShield™, which combines natural antioxidants and antimicrobial blends to provide synergistic protection against oxidation and spoilage.
Gareth: We’ve also developed advanced rosemary extract blends that perform exceptionally well in snacks, oils, and sauces—often outperforming artificial antioxidant options in terms of efficacy. Our portfolio is constantly evolving to meet new challenges and consumer expectations.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Shelf Life Extension
Q: What’s next in food protection technology?
David: We expect major advancements in processing technologies that will unlock new, natural preservative and antioxidant ingredients.
Gareth: Precision fermentation is another exciting space. It has the potential to create scalable, clean label protection solutions—but regulatory frameworks will need to evolve to support its full potential.
Final Thoughts: A Commitment to Innovation & Sustainability
At Kalsec, we’re committed to driving innovation in natural food protection. By staying ahead of trends and focusing on sustainable, clean label solutions, we help brands extend shelf life, reduce waste, and meet evolving consumer expectations.
Want to learn how Kalsec can help optimize your product’s shelf life? Connect with our experts today.