French maize firm offers a nut taste without the need for nuts

Nutricorn Nuts is a maize germ toasted using a clean-label hydrothermic process, according to Limagrain Group marketing manager Patricia Panel-Dusseaux. Its ‘hazelnut’ taste and grain size are said to make it a suitable replacement for nuts in food.

'Nut-free'​

Nutricorn is cheaper than hazelnuts and almonds and allows a ‘nut-free’ claim to be made on product labels.

Nutricorn is low-fat, which reduces the likelihood of clumping and sticking during processing, claims LCI.

Various applications ​

It can also be used as a topping in various applications, such as on tortilla chips, baked goods and dairy products.

In 2015, 12% of LCI’s turnover was for products less than three years old. “This demonstrates the vitality of our research and development​ [R&D],”​ says LCI's deputy chief executive François Viallet. Around 4% of LCI’s total turnover is devoted to R&D.