6 minutes to read
Are you aware of the benefits of this kind of tripe?
Also known as “casings”, tripes have been commonly used for years in order to improve product durability to conserve it for longer, protect it against outside factors that could influence its quality, and preserve its stability and shape. However, while animal tripes are still widely adopted in Latin America, especially those made out of bovines and pork, collagen tripes have been the most used type in developed countries.
The main reason behind this change of culture is evolution. After all, collagen tripes are both more modern and highly sustainable. But the reasons to rethink your current cold meat production process go beyond that, as the benefits of collagen tripes are now reaching end consumers, who are now starting to notice them more frequently.
Considering all the aspects involved in this change of culture, this post will show you relevant information that will help you understand why using collagen tripes is highly recommended, and how to choose the best supplier. Read on to learn more!
What are collagen tripes?
Before explaining what collagen tripes are and how they’re produced, it’s worth knowing a little more about the origins of animal tripes. As the name implies, these casings are of animal origins. Specifically, they are made out of animal intestines.
It might not seem like anything new, but the issue is that this fact brings its own set of disadvantages:
- likelihood of exhaling strong odor: when they go through a long period of time without oxygenation, animal tripes can emit an unpleasant odor that makes consumers think the food is spoiled;
- more time spent in production and likely higher costs: since they must be conserved in salt, while also requiring washing and hydration, animal tripes need more time before they’re ready for use. This same factor can also impact expenses, increasing costs depending on the production scale;
- manual load: animal tripes are incompatible with automatic encasing equipment. Each tube must then be loaded manually, increasing the cost of production. Manually loading animal tripes is a tiring, tedious process in which operators are at the risk of injuries. Automatic load systems are only compatible with collagen tripes and allow the product to be processed without manual handling.
- higher consumption of water and electricity: unlike collagen tripes, animal tripes must be washed to remove salt and must be conserved at low temperatures, increasing the consumption of electricity and requiring specialized storage equipment;
- likely loss of humidity: as animal tripes approach their expiration date, they may end up becoming dry. With the loss of natural humidity, they may also secrete a fluid caused by aging, negatively impacting its visual aspect.
Collagen tripes, on the other hand, are produced from collagen proteins found in the dermis of bovines that are carefully handpicked. They are the best alternative for foods like sausages thanks to their improved productivity, on top of being cleaner and allowing standardization of calibers.
In addition, since they don’t need to be washed and rinsed, they don’t have to be manually handled as often, decreasing the risks of contamination. All of the outlined aspects show why the use of collagen tripes is becoming more widespread in the cold meats industry. As mentioned in the introduction, the benefits also reach end consumers, becoming yet another favorable point towards a cultural shift in the industry.
What are the primary advantages of collagen tripes for end consumers?
By this point, you can probably see the primary benefits of using collagen tripes in the industry, including greater profitability compared to animal tripes. With that, we'll outline the main noticeable advantages of this product for the end consumer.
Uniformity
Unlike animal tripes which are more likely to have imperfections like tears or holes due to being made out of animal intestines, resulting in negative impacts in standardizing shape and making homogeneity impossible at an industrial scale, collagen tripes can ensure product uniformity. This makes them the best alternative for the cold meats industry at a high-production level, giving the end product a more attractive appearance.
Lack of unpleasant odors or flavors
As previously said, once they go through extended periods without oxygenation, natural tripes can emit a strong odor and even pinkish spots along its surface which give off a worse appearance. Collagen tripes, on the other hand, have an imperceptible odor right at the start of the manufacturing process are not subject to the same risks, thanks to a less porous surface. Even when they’ve been stored in a refrigerator, for instance, they will not absorb other odors and/or flavors.
Decreased risk of contamination
Collagen tripes are provided ready for use, allowing them to be brought to the necessary tools to make cold meats straight away. As stated before, they don't need to be washed or rinsed, significantly reducing the need for manual handling and thus reducing the likelihood of contamination. This ensures consumers have access to a more reliable product.
How can you choose the best supplier?
Considering that end consumers are becoming increasingly more demanding about their choices, looking not only for a more attractive visual aspect, but also sustainable, healthier and safer products, companies need to choose a reliable supplier known for working with high-quality solutions. Viscofan is the world’s leading collagen tripe producer and also creator of the TRIPA 4.0 campaign to drive market disruption, and the only company producing this product in Brazil.
Viscofan also offers a line of edible vegetable solutions in the form of Viscofan Veggie, allowing you to reach consumers who prioritize the ingestion of vegan proteins. Viscofan is a company that supports new consumption habits and believes that market trends demand constant innovation. As global leaders in meat product packages, their objective is to drive more value to customers, prioritizing quality, sustainability, dietary safety, and hygiene.
What do you think? Looking to give flavor, color, and standards to your products and enhance productivity? Learn more about our solutions and the advantages of collagen tripes!
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