IFF to Exhibit Plant-Based Softgel Technology, Gummies, & More at Vitafoods Europe

IFF, a global leader in creating products for the food, beverage, health, and biosciences sectors, will showcase its plant-based and cellulosic-derived pharmaceutical solutions at the Vitafoods Europe nutraceutical trade show.

These clean-label solutions, designed for dietary supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, meet the needs of manufacturers seeking plant-based formulations, purity, and consistent quality. This marks the first time IFF will present its complete clean-label portfolio for oral dosage forms.

The showcased solutions include:

Tablets and Capsules: High-performance cellulose-based ingredients, binders, and disintegrants such as Avicel®, Endurance®, METHOCEL™, and Ac-Di-Sol® enable the production of consumer-friendly formats for nutritional supplements and OTC products. Specific low nitrite grades are also available.

Release Solutions: METHOCEL™ water-soluble cellulose ethers enhance the efficacy of immediate and controlled-release formulations. They are suitable for plant-based hard-shell capsules, coating, granulation, and tablets.

Clean-Label Coatings: GRINDSTED® pectin can be used in traditional tablet coating processes. Additionally, the alginate-based coating system Aquateric® N100 offers delayed release, ensuring optimal nutrient delivery.

Vegan Softgel Technology: IFF’s vegan soft capsule technologies, such as SeaGel® and VERDIGEL™ SC, are designed to outperform both competing technologies and traditional animal-based counterparts.

Plant-Based Gummies: Gelcarin® and GRINDSTED® Pectin PRM allow for the production of heat-stable, gelatin-free gummies with excellent sensory properties, stability, processing, and delivery.

As companies increasingly seek to address the demand for plant-based alternatives, many medications that traditionally contain animal ingredients are being reimagined. Innovations include pea-based gelatin alternatives for capsules, insulin derived from lettuce, and plant-based medical nutrition drinks.

Research in the food industry suggests that clean-label products could make up more than 70% of portfolios within the next two years, with 99% of manufacturers viewing these items as essential to their business strategy. Similar trends are expected to emerge in the pharmaceutical industry.

Vitafoods Europe will be held from May 14-16 in Geneva, Switzerland, with IFF present at booth E90.