The Xanthan Gum Disaster - A Day in the Life of a Food Scientist

This is a series of posts in which I share snippets of what it's like to be a food scientist. As a product developer for dry powder shakes, there are some lessons I never learned in school and some challenges I never saw coming.  

Unexpected Challenge: Cleaning up Xanthan Gum

I like working with Xanthan gum because it's more tummy-friendly than some of the other gums like guar gum and doesn't solidify in the presence of milk like carrageenan. Konjac gum acts like a giant sponge, which is great if you're trying to reach satiety but not-so-great when your beverages turn into pudding.

First - a bit of science
Xanthan gum is a carbohydrate polymer used to give structure to gluten-free products, soften ice cream and thicken soups/sauces and dry powder shakes. It comes from bacterial fermentation -- basically bacteria named Xanthomonas campestris eat simple sugars, then build complex sugar chains which act as a protective outer coating. That coating is isolated and purified to make Xanthan gum.

For a colorful cartoon diagram covering the step-by-step production of Xanthan gum, check out:
Science of Xanthan - Harvard Microbiology

The Situation 
The only downside to working with Xanthan is that it's easy to spill. Like any dry powder in transit from the jar or bag to the weigh boat on a scale, some of it just seems to slide off the scoop onto the counter. As I assure my boss at the end of every day when he gives me that "Why is our white counter top so colorful" look, I never spill on purpose.

Enter to Win Goodreads Givaways

Goodreads giveaway ends February 15th but there's a new contest every month at: http://facebook.com/energydrinkguide

Goodreads Book Giveaway

ARE YOU A MONSTER OR A ROCK STAR? A Guide to Energy Drinks - How They Work, Why They Work, How to Use Them Safely

by Danielle Robertson

Giveaway ends February 15, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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Energy Drinks in the News: Study Substantiates Cognitive Effects of 5-Hour Energy

In response to the article posted on January 14, 2014 by BevNet:
http://www.bevnet.com/news/2014/study-substantiates-cognitive-effects-of-5-hour-energy

At first I was questioning the placebo, since there are studies that starve the control group and give caffeine and/or sugar for the test group. In studies like that, it’s no wonder the control group crashes, see The Dark Side of Thylakoids and Other So-called Appetite Suppressants for example. But in this study, the randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled design gives credence to the results, even more so because they tested blood glucose levels and found NO significant difference. These are the details I look for as a scientist to poke holes in the results, but in this case, this study looks solid and without reproach. I especially like that Dr. Udani couldn’t comment on the “no crash claim”. Good scientists are careful about extrapolating their results.

What They Didn't Teach Me in Food Science

This is a series of posts in which I share snippets of what it's like to be a food scientist. As a product developer for dry powder shakes, there are some lessons I never learned in school and some challenges I never saw coming.  

 

Unexpected Challenge: You must play a game (AND WIN) before you can start your work. The name of that game is "Level the Scale".

Let's say your work involves weighing out fruit, vegetable and protein powders. This work involves a scale. You can't use that scale until the little bubble is in the circle. Getting the bubble in the circle is harder than it seems, and when you finally get it in the circle, the victory does not last but one day. Since the counter-tops are covered in a thin layer of dust by the end of the day, you must move the scale (thus resetting the bubble) to properly clean your workspace before you go home.

 
I never had to play this game as an undergrad or in grad school because there was always a group of people using the scale after me. I wasn't permitted to move the scale so I never had to readjust it. Every new lab session, the bubble would already be in its proper place.




Rest assured, this is a game anyone can master after awhile, but it's always fun to watch the newbies struggle with adjusting the height of the scale's four legs. Before I had developed my winning strategy, it once took me 25 minutes to level the scale. Lets just say it seems the person who built that table must've had a hard time with the bubble in their level too.

Now it only takes me one minute or two to level the scale, and it's a challenge I've come to enjoy. Nonetheless, this is one of the many lessons I never learned in school. 


 Next Lesson - The Trouble with Xanthan
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Stay tuned for more lessons from the lab. 
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Mintel: Almost 6 in 10 Energy Drink Consumers Concerned About Safety

A Mintel study reports that almost 6 in 10 energy drink consumers are concerned about the safety of the products. Before we assume anything from this report, consider a few points for perspective.

Energy Drink of the Month - January 2014

Every January I'm ready to hit the ground running. I've got PIGs and POAs, abundant optimism and fresh determination to make the most of the new year. Chances are you do too.

 

To be successful, you need S.M.A.R.T. goals. To sustain that optimism and determination through January and beyond, you might need a V8.

To celebrate the new energy and fresh start of a new year, the Energy Drink of the Month for January 2014 is V8 V-Fusion + Energy. 

 

There are many flavors available, but this month's pick is pomegranate blueberry flavored, which contains 50% juice.

For the long road ahead, through the ups and downs toward your goal, to help you switch gears when you feel you're spinning your wheels and going nowhere fast, let V8 be your fuel-of-choice.

7 Little-Known Facts About V8 V-Fusion + Energy

Read on... CLICK HERE

What I do when I'm not blogging...

As some of you may know, I am on the R&D team for Beachbody. The latest creation has been one of my projects since about March 2013. It took a long time to find the right color pink, and an even longer time to find the perfect strawberry flavor. The flavor is natural, of course, but have you ever thought of how many different aspects of strawberries you enjoy? Jammy? Tart? Sweet? Cooked? Creamy? The possibilities were endless but I hope you like this creation.

Post by Shakeology®.

Learn more at Shakeology.com

Shakeology Facebook Page
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Friends with the Monster (energy)?

Eminem & Energy Drinks - whether you love 'em or hate 'em, challenge your perspective.

Energy Drink of the Month - December 2013

We all have a love/hate relationship with December. It's the beautiful lights and the days off work/school. It's the holiday traffic, the family gatherings that test your patience, the way your chest tightens when you go to swipe that credit card (just one more time), or the panic that sets in when it's 11:50pm Christmas Eve and you calculate one of your children has more presents than the other. I confess I'm friends with the Monster, and I may or may not party like a Rockstar on New Year's Eve. But making it through the holiday season requires a special energy drink. How special? Special edition…

The Energy Drink of the Month for December 2013 is a 3-way tie for the Red Bull Editions, Red, Blue and White. These products beat the competition in 5 categories: color, size, content, availability, and inspiration. Due to the time-crunch of the holiday season, this post is short and sweet, like the products themselves.

Food Allergies and Murder? What You Need to Know About This New Study.

As reported by multiple news outlets, a person with food allergies is more likely to be murdered than to die from a severe allergic reaction. This claim comes from a study by researchers at Imperial College London, who calculated the risk of dying from a food allergy is 3.25:1 million for those age 0-19 years old. I don't have a food allergy, and I can't speak for those I know who do, but does anyone else find this comparison unsettling?  As a food scientist, there are three points that concern me the most: the comparison, the goal and the story untold.

Green-Eyed Insight – Food Allergies and Murder