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How Calcium Lactate is Used in Food Production

Food ingredient supplier Bell Chem is proud to stock calcium lactate (pentahydrate powder) in its extensive inventory. With its low-methoxyl pectin, this marvelous ingredient is ideal for canned foods as well as fresh fruits. With the power to preserve the freshness of cut fruits and vegetables and the ability to add calcium to products, calcium lactate is a great choice under many circumstances!

As a Supplement

Supplementing foods with calcium has been the norm for decades, but many of the substances utilized leave an odd taste or aftertaste. Calcium lactate is virtually neutral in its flavor, leaving your customers with only the intended taste of your product. The ability to fortify foods with calcium lactate aids in bone strength. With its 14% mineral content, calcium lactate also remineralizes tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay and tartar production.

Physical Properties

Calcium lactate dissolves quickly when added, even at low temperatures. In fact, calcium lactate is renowned for its expedient calcium reactivity due to high product solubility. Another important factor is color: calcium lactate is virtually transparent, which is important when added to fresh foods to maintain their original coloration.

Acidic Flexibility

As an acid, calcium lactate is able to stabilize or decrease pH levels, which leads to unfavorable conditions for microbial growth. This property generally lengthens product shelf life significantly. In cheesemaking, however, calcium lactate can decrease acid content, generally when it is applied on the exterior of the cheese.

Coagulation Benefits

Calcium lactate stimulates syneresis; syneresis is the coagulation of a product into a gel as fluid is separated. This property gives calcium lactate many uses in fortifying foods and beverages, especially in the canning industry. Calcium lactate creates calcium bonds to coagulate liquid jelly rather than relying on the intricate balance of sugar, pectin, and acid. In fact, calcium lactate does not require sugar or acid to form a gel.

Bell Chem is your food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including calcium lactate. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.