Hydrocolloids represent a diverse group of long chained polymers which have the ability to form high viscous dispersions in the presence of water. The large number of hydroxyl groups has been seen to increase their affinity to water and they are thus the name hydrophilic colloids. This property has made them have wide ranging uses in various industries including the food industry.

Rheology
This is the texture modifying property of these products. This property helps improve the sensory properties of the foods making food products more appealing. This process involves non specific entanglement of disordered polymer chains and is essentially a polymer/solvent interaction. The level of thickening is largely dependent on the type of hydrocolloid used as well as the concentration. In the dilute form hydrocolloid molecules move freely in the solution. When concentration is increased, they start getting into contact with each other and movement becomes restricted. This transition represents the thickening process.

Action as Edible Films and Coatings
The edible film is a thin layer than can be ingested, coated on the food, or used as a barrier between the food and the encasing environment. One of the best examples of edible packaging is the sausages and some types of meat packaging that is never removed during cooking and eating.  In the food industry, hydrocolloids are well used in production of this edible film. The films act as the barrier for moisture ingress, gas, aroma and prevent the migration of lipids. These hydrocolloids, such as the refined guar gum powder will retard moisture entry in the short term and will also be an effective barrier for preventing the oxidation of lipids and other food ingredients.

Fat Replacement
There have been rapid changes in the lifestyles and an increasing awareness of the close connection between our diet and health effects. The emergence of new processing technologies has lead to increase in consumption of readymade foods. Majority of the population is now aware of the dangers of too much fats and oils in the body, commonly referred to as calories rich foods. Hydrocolloids have been seen as excellent fat replacers or “structured water” that give lower calorie foods that have great eating quality. Some of the hydrocolloids used in this process include the xanthan gum which may act as a thickener. Light mayonnaise is combined with guar gum to replace the fats and act as a thickener.

Production of Special Products
Certain specialized products require these special properties of hydrocolloids. In the production of jelly like foods these compounds are highly preferred. They have applications in making of confectionaries to create the jelly like structure. The preferred hydrocolloid is the guar gum and it additionally helps in preventing the crystallization of sugars and fat emulsification to keep them evenly distributed in the food product. The guar gum gels swells in presence of water and some heat. This process, when completed is irreversible hence creating stability in the food. The gel concentration is required to be greater than 1.5% in the water and less than 0.6 % in the food for taste quality. These natural gels are also stable in freeze and thaw conditions.

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The efforts of the current United States government to encourage or increase the level of oil drilling have been a major boost to the Indian guar gum production and processing. This is the reversal of a downtrend ongoing for two years. From November 2016, industry analysts have seen an 8 % increase in guar prices. The general market sentiment is that guar exports to the USA will rise by 25%. The increase in oil drilling sector in the northern America has also added to the positive expectation.

Guar Prices VS Crude Oil prices

The prices of the guar move in direct proportion to the crude oil prices. The drastic decline in crude oil prices created a direct decline in the prices of guar gum powder.  The drop in global crude prices led to decreased shale exploration and a fall in demand of the guar gum powder.

The prices of intermediate crude from west Texas fell from approximately $ 110 per barrel to $ 50 per barrel also created a major effect on importation of guar gum products.

Ware Housing

The accumulation of supplies in the oil companies’ stores also contributed to the decline in the price levels.  The establishment of warehouses by Indian businesspersons in the United States, and the subsequent build up of stocks also contributed to decrease in demand.

Oil Rig Count

The number of oilrigs in the United States reached six hundred and fifty two in the third week of March 2017. This is the highest level from September 2015. There has been a direct and positive correlation between the active rig count and the crude prices.  A closer analysis at these trends shows that when the crude prices hit the bottom, the number of operational rigs also dropped to minimum. Oilrigs require the guar gum powder for lubrication of the drilling process, and therefore its demand is in direct proportion to the performance of the rigs.

The usage of guar in the oil mining has also helped crude companies produce more oil with fewer rigs due to the increased mining efficiency and performance of the oil wells. This has caused the demand for guar to prevail despite decreasing numbers of oil wells.

Upward Trend

From reliable industry analysts, there is already a good upward trend in the prices guar gum both in the local and in the export market. These have been attributed to demand from the primary oil production industries, and the decreased domestic supply of the product.

The demand of guar by the global oil industry is estimated at 450 000 tons per year. If this production is not met in the current period, there is likely to be an imbalance in supply causing an increase in the prices.

It is estimated that the in the year 2017, the North American oil and gas companies may increase their spending on exploration by up to 30 %. There has also been increased lending from banks to finance oil production.

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The Guar gum is a natural plant extract obtained from the endosperm of the guar seeds. It has recently been seen to have numerous applications in industries and also in medicine.The Water soluble fiberin the guar acts as a laxative hence is used in promotion of regular bowel movements and as a reliever of constipation. Some therapeutic properties include;

Management of Diverticulosis

This is a condition which develops when pouches form in the walls of the colon. These are very small in size (less than 10 mm). Later they lead to the diseasediverticular disease which is a painful condition. Medical research has shown that diet with high fiber or roughages help in production of stool that bulky and easily move through the large intestines. The guar gum is a good ingredient that can be used for this condition.

Management of Physiological Disorders

Consumption of partially hydrolyzed guar gum has the effect of reducing the post prandial blood glucose absorption uptake which occurs in the small intestine. This has the effect of regulating the glucose level in the systemic circulation. It also acts as an agent for controlling the release rate of active ingredient in medicine.

Crohn’s Disease Management

This is a disorder in the small intestine that occurs mostly on the right side of the colon. It is an inflammatory disorder, where the bacteria residing in the gut invade the bowel causing the disease.in the management of this disease; doctors prescribe medicine that will aid movement of contents smoothly through the intestines. Guar gum acts as the laxative that is effective in the alleviation of these symptoms.

Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum

Partially hydrolyzed guar gum is also used in the prevention of “Iron Chloride induced arterial thrombosis” and hyper-lipidermia a high fat diet. Research has shown that the granulated form of guar gum can be used in the management of hypercholesterolemia. The suffocated degraded form of the guar has been found to reduce cholesterol and fibrinogen very effectively from the body.

Colitis Syndrome or Disease

Ulcerative colitis begins as a colon inflammation to the rectum. Rectal bleeding is the culmination of this disorder. The bleeding is a result of small open sores or ulcers. This leads to abdominal pain and frequent need to empty the colon. Guar gum remains the most popular g-free substitute ingredients in flours and helps to understand what part of the gluten molecule is actually the problem for celiacs.

Management of Diarrhea

The partially hydrolyzed guar gum has also been found to be effective in the management of Diarrhea and cholera symptoms in adults. It undergoes fermentation in the body to release fatty acids that are helpful in treatment of diarrhea when combined with oral rehydration solutions.

Research has also shown that the partially hydrolyzed form of the guar is active in the management of constipation as it enhances the bowel movement and eliminates the risk of colorectal cancer.

There is evidence from research that this modified form of guar prevents development of cancerous cells by inhibiting carcinogen-activatingenzymes, and promotion of the carcinogen detoxification enzyme called glutathione-s-transferase.

Conclusion

Increasing medical research shows that the guar gum has important therapeutic properties. The most important characteristic is its high fiber content and therefore acting as excellent roughage for the body. The roughages play a great role in movement of food through the digestive system. Recently the product has also been used in regulation of blood glucose.

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The biggest consumer of the guar gum powder is the petroleum industry. Its usage in shale gas production has been the single biggest usage. This caused a surge in demand for the product in the year 2016 and the trend will go on in 2017.

2016 – 2017 Production Trends

The biggest producer of the guar is India (80%), followed by Pakistan (15%) and others at 15% of the total global demand. In India it is produced in the state of Rajasthan and Haryana. The year 2015 experienced a decline in production to 2 million metric tons from a high of 2.5 million metric tons in the period 2014/2015.  The seed to Gum conversion ratio also stood at 27 – 33%.

The production of the guar seed is also dependent on the monsoon rains, which could have caused the dip in production in the year 2015.

Price and Market Trend

The prices of the guar gum powder have now stabilized after a rapid decline caused by the crush in oil prices. In the past, the United State was the biggest importer of the powder and was primarily for crude oil drilling. Currently China is leading in the gas exploration and could be the leading market for the product.

Substitution by the synthetic gums such as the hydrocolloids, xanthan and the tara gums will not be a major influence owing to the superior performance of the guar and the market price adjustments that have occurred.

Expected Performance for the Year 2017

Apart from the usage in the petroleum industry, the guar is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, textile industry, food processing and most recently in the manufacture of explosives. This recent discovery is also set to create another demand pull which could trigger a price hike. This presents good opportunities for vendors in the current and forth coming years.

Market Price Fluctuations of the Guar Powder

The current inventory levels are becoming a substantial influence on the price of guar powder.The high levels kept by the shale producers could mean price stability over the coming period. Continued shale gas exploration will be influenced by the price of the crude oil. Over production of oil by the OPEC nations will translate to price stability rather than decline and shale exploration will be constant.The recent increased shale exploration in India has also created a local demand.

Major Sectors to Drive Purchases

The market segmentation of the guar gum is classified into grades and demand regions. Different grades of the product are used up by different industries. The grades are industrial grade guar, food grade and pharmacy grade.

Thus production and processing of the guar powder is based on the final target market. Food-grade guar powder is highly refined and processed to meet the strict hygiene conditions. It is used as an additive in various products such as dairy,bakery, sauces, confectioneries and beverages.

Industrial guar powder I used in oil refineries and gas exploration, while the pharmacy grade is used in manufacture of medicines.

Conclusion

In the year 2017 to 2020, it is expected that the food-processing sector will contribute substantially to the consumption of guar Gum. This is due to increased reliance on convenience and processed foods across the world. The shale gas exploration sector will also be a key determinant of demand for the guar powder.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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British Retail Consortium certification on Guar Gum is used for ensuring food safety. It is used in food industry depending on the product preparation and requirements like the baking industry. The BRC authorization on Guar Gum also recognizes the specified standard rules and regulation, which helps the food production firms in selection and preparation of baking items.  This certification involves various features involving process, production and management, factory environment standards, manufacturing processes and assessment of present retailer supplies. The BRC certification on Guar Gum is also working on analysis and testing features. This helps in ensuring the right ingredients to be used in the baking industry to move forward and use guar gum as one of the main ingredients.

Relay on BRC certification on Guar Gum

The British Retail Consortium certificate on this product works as a recognized certificate for the baking industry, to ensure that they stick to the top grade food items. It works as a sign of purity and avoid any intervention of the fraud guar gum suppliers in your country. It is vital to check the BRC certified on this product, before using the same in baking sector. It works as a safety norm, and a must have in standard rules.

Works as safety proof in baking arena

Most of the baking industries are currently looking for BRC Certified Guar Gum items. It is a way of staying safe and healthy, and it helps to avoid mixing any preservative with the natural ingredient. This warranty is awarded as a proof of good quality. It works as the ultimate guarantee of Guar Gum, used in the baking arena. In case, you are planning for any business deal with guar gum suppliers; the baking zone must check out this BRC certification first.

Work as a global standard

This kind of BRC warranty on Guar Gum is used by most of the suppliers of baking section, on a global basis. It works as a guaranteed rule on quality, safety, and operational criteria. It even helps the baking firm to know that the guar gum supplier is clear from any legal liabilities, whenever they have this BRC mark on their items. Moreover, this BRC warranty on this thickening agent must come with Grade A qualification, only after which, it can be used as a major ingredient of baking industry. Other than the certified mark on Guar gum for baking industry, such reliable suppliers offer BRC mark on guar gum and some of the same derivatives, used widely in bake sector.

Benefits of BRC guar gum certification

The BRC certificate on this thickening agent in baking industry helps in promoting best practices, followed by the manufacturing unit. It even helps in recognizing the production improvement of supplier, along with the standard and consistency level, which is indeed required in baking sector. It devoid any product failure and ensures that the guar gum used in making cakes and pastries, is of top-notch quality only. A BRC mark on the guar gum baking ingredient means that the program is free from multiple reviews of various manufacturers.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Altrafine Gums is the only Indian supplier who have BRC global standard for food safety certificate with grade “A” in production and packing of guar gum powder and cassia gum powder.

When it comes to deal with the food items, being extra sure is the only key to staying safe. You cannot possibly check the issue yourself and understand. But for the organizations, who deal with the eatable items, there is a certification awarded, which stands to delineate the quality. The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is known as the ultimate guarantee for food items and packaging. If you are looking for B2B deals, then opting for those enterprises which confirm this document will be a wise decision.

BRC Global Standard for Food Safety

This certification program is used by the suppliers in 123 countries from all around the world. You will be guaranteed about the safety, quality and operational criteria. You will also learn that the organization is clear from all the legal liabilities.

If you are opting for the thickeners, or you are associated with the food, feed, pet food or other industry, then Altrafine Gums is the one you should think about being incorporating with. As this is the only Indian company which has the BRC Global Standard Certificate with Grade A, you will be guaranteed to have the best quality guar gum Powder, cassia gum and derivatives for your use.

BRC Certification Features

BRC credential is designed to define the practices of good manufacturing and the management system of good quality, so that, the combination can meet the end of customers’ satisfaction. It is a proven identification for the food product quality measurement in all the ways for any organization, which is into food processing and packaging. Some of the features of this procedure are:

• This certification procedure contributes to promote the best practices done by any food company, and the Altrafine Gums is the only Indian supplier that follows BRC Global Standard with Grade “A” Certification.
• It recognizes the suppliers’ production improvements, consistency, and standard. Product failure becomes next to none, and this elevates the whole quality of food supply.
• The program omits the multiple reviews of the food manufacturer.
• Every level of objectives is checked and then gives the signal to the supply chain if it is good to go.

Importance of BRC Standard

Incorporating with this certification concern will help you to avail the safe and international level products, and learning about them will make you advantageous for more than one reason. Being aware of products will help you to take the advantages of the service that the firm offers. Being associated with the Altrafine Gums, you ensure to get the access of high-quality Guar Gum, Cassia Tora Powder and many other products. It is important to maintain a certain level of quality when it comes to deal with the customers regarding food items. There are several reasons that explore the importance of this certification needed are:

• With the help of the document of guarantee, it boosts the customers’ confidence. People tend to incorporate with the certified organization, such as the Altrafine Gums that follows the stringent quality standards. This helps to minimize the rejected supplies and complaints.
• It reduces the risk-base approach and leads to enhance the product supply in a better way.
• Being cleared from all the legal liabilities helps to stay away from lawful issues in future.
• As this certificate defines the standard of the product quality, it helps to promote the organization and elevate the level of profit.

With the help of the highly skilled auditors and the BRC team, Altrafine Gums have successfully obtained the BRC certificate in every way and ensures to all their industrial customers for product safety and quality.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Guar gum powder is extracted from the guar bean (cyamopsis tetragonolobus), which grows in India and Pakistan. The power derived from this naturally occurring gum and is mainly carbohydrate in nature. It has been used from time memorial as food, as a gelling, thickening and binding agent as well as a medicinal plant.  Guar powder is carefully extracted from the leguminosae seeds through multistage industrial processing techniques which depend on the powder quality.  The useful properties of this powder stems from its constituent chemicals and the gummy substance referred to as galactomannan. In the large intestines, the materials are mixed, dehydrated, stored, transported and excreted. Obstructed movement of the gastrointestinal materials results to constipation and other intestinal problems. Laxatives such as guar gum powder are normally preferred as suitable natural solutions to constipation and other gastrointestinal illnesses.

Laxative properties of guar gum

Guar gum powder has lipids, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, polymers and properties which are constituents of most pharmaceutical products.  This makes the powder very useful for many medical applications. The powder has many useful properties that make it an effective agent for loosening stool and increasing bowel movements.

First and foremost, guar powder in form of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGM) contains water fibers which are soluble in water. Upon ingestion, this fiber forms a bulk laxative which is effective increases bowel movement and reduces constipation. Due to their solubility in water, these fibers play an important role in treatment of constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis and constipation. When ingested, the fibers absorb and normalize the water in the stool and prevent constipation. Water soluble fibers have excellent water absorption properties which ensure that stool absorbs water from the colon and retains it. Subsequently, the stool becomes large, soft and easier to pass as fecal matter. Secondly, this PHGM has low gelling properties which increase water solubility. Materials that form a gel drastically reduce the penetration of water to the stool. However, this powder has non gelling properties which allow more water to penetrate to the stool.

Guar gum also forms a bulky bowel in the small and large intestines. In the human stomach, the formation of these bulky materials moves the content of the stomach and prevents indigestion, irritable bowel disease and Crohn’s disease. Bulky materials are easily pushed quickly through the intestines. Guar gum has excellent viscosity which makes it a good laxative. In the mammalian large intestine, the degradation of intestinal content greatly affects the viscosity creating constipation. Guar gum powder softens the stool and reduces its viscosity. The reduced viscosity results to the passage of bowels through the intestine faster which prevents constipation.

Guar gum powder also processes excellent drug delivery properties. This enables it to transport solid and liquid drugs to target areas such as small and large intestine.  It has excellent disintegration properties, is a good binding agent, reduces viscosity and is a good suspending as well as bio-adhesive agent. This makes it an excellent laxative.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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The European Union is currently comprised of 17 nations that have very strong economies with rapidly developing food processing and manufacturing industries. Of these nations, Germany has the strongest economy with a very strong currency and hence, has remained the highest importer of the guar products.

These European nations cannot produce their own Guarkernmehl and they have to rely on imports from the rest of the world. The main reason being the fact that this is largely a tropical crop doing well even in arid and semi arid areas.

Food processing in the EU

The EU countries have a very advanced food processing system and sizeable population which provides a very good market for processed food and feed. What is even better is that, these nations are developed and have high per capita incomes with higher purchasing power.

According to research, demand for the guar particularly in Germany is growing. According to statistics, in the year 2012 Germany was the second largest importer of this product and especially for food processing.

The Indian subcontinent is a net exporter of the guar seed and the guar gum products, which contributes up to 70% of the global production. Recently it exported over 117 000 metric tons of guar and it products. 10% of this production goes to the European Union with the other bulk going to the United States.

Factors Contributing To High Demand in the EU

Guarkernmehl is a great thickener for foods, organic and a better option than other thickeners like the locust gum and xanthan gum. What is more advantageous is the fact that it has better thickening abilities while applied in relatively smaller quantities.

Germany and Italy have the highest demand for the guar specifically for food processing.

• It has major uses in the oil production processes with a demand higher than that of the food processing.
• It has a good demand in the manufacture of cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals almost equal to that of the food industries.

Other Demand Regions

The United Kingdom being ranked 4^th largest importer of the guar in the world also represents a sizeable demand for guar products. The main uses are for oil exploration and production, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and also production of cosmetic products.

Other Factors Contributing To Increased Demand for Guar

There has been a steady increase in the prices of the guar gum especially from the Indian sub continent. A metric ton has risen up to over 6000 USD up from 1800 in the period 2011 – 2012. This was largely driven by speculation of a pending scarcity by buyers leading to increased buying trend. It is also noted that the supply of the product increased over the same period.

For the year 2014 – 2015, there has been an increased demand for the guar products due to increased activity in oil and gas exploration.

In the Indian sub continent alone, the country is planning to dig over 30 shale gas wells. The United States has also increased its oil exploration ventures and this has contributed to further demand for Guarkernmehl.

Conclusion

The European Union continues to be a major user of guar based products. More and more applications are coming up for guar products. It has also been used in manufacture of pet food. However it’s application in the food processing and oil mining sectors have remained the key demand drivers for this product.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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