Nexira acquires Keragum

Nexira announced the acquisition of Keragum, a Moroccan company specializing in carob-based ingredients. The acquisition represents a milestone in Nexira's Ambitions 2030 growth strategy and strengthens the group’s position across the natural ingredients value chain, particularly in the carob sector, the company notes. “With Keragum, Nexira takes a new step forward,” said Mathieu Dondain, vice president and CEO at Nexira, in a statement. “As with acacia, our ambition is to invest as close as possible to production, securing high-quality raw materials while generating tangible local value. Together, Keragum and Nexira will drive the stability, sustainability and long-term growth of a market we deeply believe in.”

OSF embraces clear whey, carbonated protein drinks

OSF Flavors is launching a formulation framework for clear whey beverages and carbonated protein drinks that combines masking and application-specific architecture to address the unique formulation challenges that such beverages represent. The formulation approach addresses the taste challenge on two levels simultaneously. The masking component is designed to interrupt bitter peptide perception at the receptor interaction level rather than through flavor layering or sweetness amplification. The approach targets the specific TAS2R receptor pathways activated by whey-derived bitter peptides, reducing their signal without altering the overall flavor architecture of the product, the company says. The masking agent is selected and dosed for the acidic, low-viscosity environment of a carbonated beverage, ensuring that its behavior under CO2 saturation and at target pH is predictable and consistent, it adds.