The challenges of natural preservation of food products
03 June 2026
In recent months, we have seen that, alongside food manufacturers, major retailers are increasingly focusing on offering sustainable products made from natural ingredients without preservatives or other E numbers: ‘clean label’ products. In doing so, they are responding to the needs of consumers who are increasingly looking for sustainable products that are as natural as possible.
Clean label or preservative-free products sound appealing to consumers, but they also present certain challenges for food producers. For instance, natural ingredients are often more expensive and can affect the taste or colour of the product. Furthermore, natural preservation methods may be less effective than traditional preservation, meaning that adjustments to the recipe or production process are necessary to continue to guarantee the shelf life of naturally preserved products.
Smartfood R&D is built on the foundations of more than 25 years of research into the interactions between bacteria and the natural properties of raw materials. This enables us to extend the shelf life of food products by making use of the natural properties of raw materials.
For the successful launch of naturally preserved foods, it is crucial to know exactly which factors to adjust in order to create a tasty and food-safe preservative-free product with the desired shelf life. It all hangs together: food safety, shelf life, process control, production efficiency and sensory properties such as the taste of the end product. That is why we approach the management of shelf-life risks through our unique integrated approach.
Smartfood R&D is the expert in the preservation of food products that must be clean label, 100% natural or free from E numbers. Thanks to our unique combination of predictive modelling, accelerated microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory shelf-life research, and our guidance on adapting recipes or processes, our clients can respond quickly and effectively to developments in a market that is constantly changing.
