OSF Flavors Develops “Full Sensory Experience” Approach to Protein Masking Technology

Windsor, CT - OSF Flavors, which specializes in custom food and beverage flavors based on natural and organic ingredients, has developed a “full sensory experience” approach to protein masking technology that produces better taste acceptability in categories that present challenges for manufacturers such as beverages, dairy and bakery products.

The masking technology works through complementary mechanisms by blocking sensory receptors, modulating nerve signals, balancing flavors, reducing bitterness and astringency, improving mouthfeel, and even leveraging trigeminal effects.

“Taste experience is a complex process where the brain integrates signals from taste buds, smell receptors, and the trigeminal nerve to create a complete flavor,” says Pierre Battu, Managing Director, Asia, OSF Flavors. “Our approach to masking technology makes protein-enriched products more acceptable and commercially viable, especially for challenging applications, by viewing taste perception as a holistic interaction between flavor, smell, texture and neurobiological responses.”

The approach is designed to:

• Prevent sensory receptors of off-notes by neutralizing them at the source;
• Modulate taste to mask off-notes and influence perception by activating taste receptors and enhancing overall palatability through the balance of acidity and astringency;
• Reduce the perception of bitterness and create mouthfeel by coating the tongue and modulating flavor release;
• Balance flavors through the use of aroma molecules that can inhibit the perception of off-notes as a competitive aroma;
• Leverage the trigeminal effect to enhance taste perception through the use of stimuli.

The technology enables a natural and organic solution to protein masking that is highly soluble and stable through a well-controlled formulation.

About OSF Flavors

Founded in the US in 1983, OSF Flavors operates on four continents, with R&D and manufacturing capabilities in each location.

OSF, which focuses on development of custom flavors to enable brands to realize their unique product visions, offers a range of products, from classic to fruit, savory and innovative flavors (such as cookie dough and cheesecake) as well as masking flavors for plant protein products and functional flavors including salt replacers and sweetness enhancers.