Beyond Sweet & Salty: Crafting Health-Forward Flavours with Renaissance Modulators
A new era of conscious indulgence
Consumers everywhere are reading labels more closely than ever. From looming front-of-pack warnings for high sugar and sodium in Canada to global wellness trends, brands now face a clear challenge: how to create products that satisfy cravings without loading up on sugar, salt, or protein off-notes. At Renaissance Flavors International (RFI) in Toronto, we believe the answer lies in smart flavour science, delivering full sensory experiences through precision modulation rather than excess formulation.
The sugar solution: Keeping the sweet spot
Sugar drives mouthfeel, roundness, and emotional delight, but it also drives calories.
SweetLift® is our flagship sugar-reduction system that recreates sucrose’s signature build and lingering sweetness while allowing up to 30–50 % total sugar removal in mainstream beverages, bakery, confectionery, and alternative dairy. Pair it with SensoCane®, our zero-calorie sweetener blend, when you need outright sugar-free formulations with no metallic or licorice aftertaste. Together they let formulators dial sweetness precisely, layer complexity, and hit emerging “< 5 g free sugars” targets, all without compromising label friendliness.
The salt solution: Savoury character, lower sodium
Salt isn’t just salty; it amplifies umami, balances bitterness, and boosts aroma. SaltBoost™ recreates that critical flavour lift while enabling sodium cuts of 20–40 % in snacks, sauces, ready-to-eat meals, and plant-based proteins. Its clean profile preserves mouthfeel and avoids the metallic notes often associated with potassium chloride, making it ideal for brands preparing for stricter sodium benchmarks.
The protein challenge: Masking, modulating, perfecting
High-protein foods and supplements deliver nutrition but come with earthy, beany, or bitter off-notes, especially when pea, hemp, or novel protein isolates are involved. SensoFix™ is a targeted protein flavour enhancer that masks grassy pea nuances, dampens astringency, and restores a creamy, dairy-like finish. For stubborn bitterness across botanicals, caffeine, or functional actives, TasteShield™ steps in, neutralising harsh tails while synching with SweetLift® and SaltBoost™ to round the entire profile.
Synergy in action
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Sensory Need |
Core RFI Modulator |
Ideal Applications |
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Reduce 30–50 % sugar while keeping body |
SweetLift® (+ SensoCane® for zero-cal) |
RTD beverages, gummies, breakfast bars |
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Cut 20–40 % sodium without taste loss |
SaltBoost™ |
Savoury snacks, soups, sauces |
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Mask plant-protein off-notes and improve creaminess |
SensoFix™ |
Plant-based milks, shakes, protein bars |
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Erase lingering bitterness from actives |
TasteShield™ |
Energy drinks, nutraceutical powders |
By layering these tools, formulators can solve multiple challenges in a single flavour brief, for example, a low-sugar, high-protein oat shake that tastes like a vanilla malt or a reduced-salt plant-based jerky that still satisfies savoury cravings.
Partner with Renaissance Flavors International
Our multi-disciplinary R&D team—food scientists, formulators, and analytical chemists—works hand-in-hand with your developers to:
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Custom-tailor flavour systems for regional palates and regulatory targets
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Rapid-prototype benchtop samples within days
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Optimise cost-in-use and supply-chain resilience through Canadian manufacturing
Ready to future-proof your next healthy launch?
Email sales@renaissanceflavors.com for 30–100 g evaluation samples or to book a virtual tasting session from our Toronto flavour lab.
