Food Grade Alcohol: New Study Reveals Surprising Consumer Preferences in the Food and Beverage Industry

 

Food Grade Alcohol

What is Food Grade Alcohol?

Ethyl alcohol refers to any distilled alcohol that has been produced and processed in accordance with regulations set by food authorities for use in food, medicines, and related applications. The two most common types of ethyl alcohol are ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol and isopropanol, also known as isopropyl alcohol or 2-propanol. Ethyl alcohol is tasteless, odorless and colorless in its pure form and does not contain any additives or other impurities that could make it unfit for internal consumption.

Production and Processing of Ethyl alcohol

Food Grade Alcohol is distilled from various grains such as corn, wheat, rye or other plant materials through a process that involves fermentation followed by fractional distillation to increase the concentration of alcohol and remove impurities. Only the mid-cuts or "hearts" portion of the distillate is retained while the foreshots and tails sections are disgarded. The retained alcohol is then purified through activated carbon column filtration and micro/ultra-filtration to further polish it. Additional treatments such as reverse osmosis and use of ion-exchange resins ensure compliance with stringent food safety norms before the alcohol is approved for use in food and beverage applications.

Ethyl alcohol Specifications

For alcohol to be considered food grade, it needs to meet a set of chemical and microbiological purity specifications laid down by regulatory agencies. Some key parameters that ethyl alcohol is tested for and should meet are:

- Alcohol type & concentration: Usually 95% ethanol or 99% isopropanol.

- Heavy metal content: No lead and very low levels (if any) of other heavy metals like arsenic or mercury.

- Microbial content: Very low bacteria and yeast cell counts. Should test absent for pathogens.

- Residual chemicals: Near zero levels of methanol, fusel alcohols and other process chemicals.

- Organoleptic properties: Odorless, tasteless and colorless in appearance.

Applications of Ethyl alcohol

Given its purity, ethyl alcohol finds applications in diverse food and beverage products as well as in personal care & hygiene items:

- As ethanol, it is used as a food additive in liqueurs, extracts, tonics and other alcoholic beverages to provide aroma, texture and preserve other ingredients.

- Isopropanol helps maintain freshness as an antimicrobial agent in foods like packaged salads, dressings and sauces.

- Both act as solvents to dissolve flavor oils, pigments, caffeine in items like hard candies, gelatin desserts, mouthwashes and perfumes.

- Food grade ethanol is a crucial extraction medium for vanilla, hops, coffee and other food essences. It helps recover heat-sensitive nutrients from plant materials.

- Pharmaceutical industry depends on ethyl alcohols as key ingredients in medicines, antiseptics and hand sanitizers.

- They also enable purification of certain biotechnological products and extracts through distillation.

- Ethyl alcohol is becoming popular as a more eco-friendly fuel additive to partially substitute gasoline.

Indian Market and Regulations

India has emerged as a major producer and consumer of food grade alcohol in recent times. Besides large domestic demand from the food, personal care and pharmaceutical sectors, Indian suppliers are also catering to export markets in Asia, Africa, Middle East and Europe. However, to ensure safety, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has stipulated that only grain-based alcohol meeting 22 purity parameters can be called "food grade". Producers need to obtain proper license and renew it annually. Prices range from Rs. 350-800/liter depending on grade, purification level, order volume, and delivery terms. With growing health consciousness, the Indian ethyl alcohol market is projected to witness 8-10% annual growth in the coming years.

Future Prospects and Challenges

As uses of alcohol expand to new domains like sanitizers, disinfectants and biofuel additives amid the current pandemic, the ethyl alcohol market is poised for considerable upside in the near future. Suppliers need to upgrade operations, obtain stricter certifications and cater to niche segments to leverage opportunities. At the same time, they face challenges related to price fluctuations in raw material grains, high entry barriers for smaller players and ensuring consistent quality over large volumes.

 

In Summary, adopting advanced distillation processes, embracing digitization and developing innovative applications can help industry stakeholders tide over difficulties while tapping the market potential.

 

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