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Experts

R&D Strategy & Process

We’ll direct your questions to:

• Elaine Wedral, Ph.D., is the recently retired president of Nestle’s R&D center in New Milford, Conn. In 17 years with Nestle, she was responsible for U.S. R&D laboratory facilities, was a member of Nestle’s global R&D management committee and most recently focused on R&D strategy for Nestle’s foodservice activities.
   
  
• Hollis Ashman and Jacqueline Beckley left product development careers with Nabisco and Kraft to found the Understanding and Insight Group, a consumer research and business development company.
   
  
• Kantha Shelke, Ph.D., our Ingredients Editor, was a senior scientist at Pillsbury/Grand Metropolitan, head of strategic R&D at Continental Baking and head of research, innovation & marketing strategy at Ben & Jerry’s.
   
  
• Frances Katz, our Senior Technical Editor, was director of research at American Maize Products Co.

Meat preservation
In meat processing, factories normally use sodium nitrate as preservative and for good meat color preservation. Since this chemical is believed to increase risk of cancer, are there any alternative treatments/chemicals that can replace the function of this formula? What is the acceptable dose or level that a person can have without affecting the health?
Category: R D Strategy Process

Defining and labeling soy ingredients
What is the difference between soy gluten and soy protein? Does each ingredient need to be declared separately on the label?
Category: R D Strategy Process

How are viscometers used in food processing?
I am currently working with a company that is developing a sensor system that will be integrated into both a handheld, portable viscometer and eventually, an on-line unit. The system will measure true viscosity and the company is interested in selling to the food processing industry. However, I am unsure of the need for true viscosity measurement in food processing — I cannot seem to find any literature sources or articles that speak directly to this need. Thus, any insight you can provide on whether there is a need to measure true viscosity, whether it is done currently, and, if not, whether it may be done in the future, would be greatly appreciated.
Category: R D Strategy Process

Use of tocopherols in a dog biscotti formulation
We are baking dog biscotti and want to use tocopherols as preservatives. I need to know how much to use per recipe and where to buy them. I have searched and searched and cannot find the information. Any help is much appreciated.
Category: R D Strategy Process

Seeking a U.S. supplier of modified wheat starch
I urgently need to know the companies which I can purchase modified starch (wheat) from the USA. The only one known to me is Grain Processing Corp. (Muscatine, Iowa).
Category: R D Strategy Process