A&B Ingredients Introduces Remy DR7-111 Casein Replacement for Imitation Cheese

Fairfield, NJ, May 23, 2005 – Most of the shredded cheese used in pizza toppings, Mexican food and salad bars is not natural cheese, but imitation cheese, which tastes surprisingly similar to the real thing and yet, is less expensive and has a longer shelf life. Imitation cheese also has little or no saturated fat and no cholesterol, which means it’s healthier for consumers, as well.

Imitation cheese is typically made by combining 23% casein, a milk derived protein, with fat, water and emulsifiers. Because casein prices are quite high, starch is often used to replace part of the casein to reduce the cost. Unfortunately, most corn or potato starch casein replacements have a poor melt quality and a chemical taste.

A&B Ingredients, a leading provider of rice-based ingredients, introduces Remy DR7-111 rice starch. A research project conducted at the University of Minnesota found that when Remy DR-7111 was used in combination with 1% AX-DR rice starch to replace the casein in imitation cheese, the result was a cleaner flavor, better melt and mouthfeel, smoother appearance, and whiter color than other casein replacement starches. Remy DR7-111 can replace approximately 45% of the casein used in imitation cheeses for a substantial cost savings.

Gil Bakal, Managing Director of A&B Ingredients, says, “Remy DR7-111 is the solution for processors who want to formulate high quality imitation cheese at an economical price. Due to its many unique characteristics, Remy DR7-111 will raise the bar for imitation cheese, bringing it even closer to the taste and texture of natural cheese.”

Founded in 1990, A&B Ingredients is a leading supplier of rice based food starches for the food industry. Based on a tradition of research and development, A&B’s focus is to discover unique ingredients that enable its customers to create value added products. The company is committed to working, as a partner, to develop prototypes of new and improved food products. A&B maintains full applications labs, pilot plant facilities with consumer testing capabilities, and provides technical sales and marketing, importing, distribution and applications development/technical services.

###

For more information contact A&B Ingredients at 973-227-1390 or visit A&B’s website at www.abingredients.com.