Olam Food Ingredients partners with Agri-Neo to debut pasteurized dried onions

SINGAPORE – Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), one of the world’s largest suppliers of ingredients, has joined hands with Agri-Neo, one of Canada’s top growing food safety technology companies, to provide “industry’s first organically pasteurized dried onions.”

 The collaboration will reinforce OFI’s market position in dried onion ingredients and expand Agri-Neo’s pasteurization technology, Neo-Pure. Commenting on the partnership, Greg Estep, CEO of OFI’s spices platform, said the partnership will support the company’s strategy to supply natural and tailored ingredients.

According to Estep, the development of the certified organic dried onion solution adheres to the highest standards of food safety and quality. As a certified-organic solution, the Neo-Pure Pasteurized (NPP) dried onions will support OFI’s customers in delivering ingredients that boast high food safety and quality standards.

The technology enables pasteurization without radiation, which cannot be used in organic ingredient processing, and will enhance food safety in OFI’s organic and conventional dried onion ingredients. The partnership demonstrates OFI’s investment in enhanced food safety for both conventional and organic ingredients.

“Whether customers are seeking conventional or organic ingredients, the partnership enables us to provide these solutions as safely as possible. Ensuring that ingredients meet or exceed the highest safety standards – without harming the natural nutrition and sensory quality of the product,” explained Estep.

He adds that this latest collaboration opens up more opportunities to apply natural pasteurization methods to create effective, label-friendly, unique food safety solutions.

“Agri-Neo shares this view, as shown by the Neo-Pure integration. Consistently and effectively delivering improved food safety standards, this all-natural pasteurization solution maintains the natural taste, color and aroma of our portfolio of dried onion ingredients,” he said.

Neo-Pure has continued to set the pace as a key player in food safety, added Rob Wong, President of Agri-Neo.

“It exceeds the rigorous ingredient standards by using a patented blend of organic actives in a food safety system to eliminate pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. It is a non-thermal pasteurization process that has been specifically developed to preserve food quality,” said Rob.

Harnessing Agri-Neo’s Neo-Pure technology, the organic and conventional dried onion ingredients can be pasteurized without irradiation or ethylene oxide sterilization (ETO).

Estep highlighted that for food companies, the Agri-Neo partnership demonstrates OFI’s commitment to exceed expectations for safe and high-quality food ingredients. Moreover, “holistic wellness” and “mindful eating” trends have also driven the rising demand for naturally produced, clean label products, as consumers seek foods that are good for them, good for farmers and good for the planet.

This development is one of a range of solutions aimed at bolstering OFI’s spices portfolio.  Last month, the company launched its Blends of the Americas range, offering manufacturers high-quality blends that highlight cuisines from Mexico, the Southwest and the Caribbean.