Sparkling protein water: Arla launches “game-changing” whey protein ingredient for RTD sports beverages

24 Apr 2019 --- Arla Foods Ingredients has released a 100 percent whey protein hydrolysate solution specifically developed for sparkling protein water formulations. The debut comes as the functional beverages space is rapidly growing and major retailers are releasing fortified waters with several functional advantages, such as gut health, protein and vitamin immunity. Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear is sugar- and fat-free and is suitable for sports nutrition beverages.

Arla’s new ingredient is touted as delivering an optimized taste, a low bitterness profile and long shelf-life. Moreover, it is lactose-free, low in salt and easy to flavor.

According to the company, full-scale factory trials have shown that Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear can be used to produce sparkling water products with up to 6 percent protein. This makes it straightforward for sports drinks manufacturers to create crystal-clear, sparkling, high-protein RTD beverages with strong health credentials.

“With Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear it is possible to produce a great-tasting, high-protein sparkling water. This means that sports nutrition brands can launch, for example, a standard 330ml can contain 20g of whey protein per serving, making it perfect for sports nutrition users,” says Joe Katterfield, Health and Performance Nutrition Development Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients.

“The concept is also ideal for lifestyle and soft drink brands, as it allows them to offer a great source of protein in convenient and refreshing on-the-go format that will appeal to all ages,” he adds.

Innova Market Insights reports that there was a 188 percent growth in new products with a high/source of protein positioning and a 65 percent rise in energy/alertness positions from 2013-2017. In 2017, more than five percent of new global food & beverage launches featured protein claims, with CAGR of 29 percent from 2013-2017.

The new ingredient comes as protein waters are experiencing an uptick in demand and while protein drinks without the added fat and sugar content are a growing consumer demand. According to a NutritionInsight webinar poll, industry developers are targeting on-the-go beverage solutions, with items that incorporate between 10 and 20 grams of protein, proving especially popular. 

Sales of functional and fortified waters, meanwhile, rose by 4 percent a year from 2013-2017 and are forecast to grow by 6 percent a year from 2018-2022. The carbonates segment is also robust, with a 22 percent a year increase in new launches globally between 2007 and 2017.l

“Market conditions are ideal for launching sparkling protein waters targeted at sports nutrition users, a group of consumers who are always on the look-out for products that deliver high levels of whey protein in a convenient format,” Katterfield. 

“However, for technical reasons – primarily related to issues around taste and bitterness – there are currently no sparkling protein waters on the market made exclusively with whey. In this respect, Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear is a game-changer, enabling manufacturers to incorporate 100 percent whey protein hydrolysate into crystal clear carbonated beverages,” he notes.

Protein RTD boom in NPD
No sugar, low-calorie and high-protein functional beverages, such as protein waters, will continue to see a surge in popularity. 

Functional beverages are “an exciting space,” Alan Johnstone, Business Development Manager at Volac, recently told NutritionInsight. Tapping into the high protein and clean labels trends, the company is exploring “functional hydration” through the launch of ingredients that will fortify water without changing its refreshing taste, while maintaining a “clean label” appeal.

Last October, FrieslandCampina Ingredients DMV launched an “ultra-clean” whey protein isolate. The company touts Nutri Whey Isolate as representing an exciting new proposition: a pure, clean-tasting, nutritionally-balanced protein that can deliver unprecedented clarity in protein water and clear drinks applications. This is the first time that FrieslandCampina Ingredients DMV has offered a whey protein isolate. The drivers behind its move into this ingredient space are proprietary R&D advancements that have yielded a minimally-processed, high-performance isolate, coupled with a desire to meet the latest market needs for high protein products.

Also, last year, Milk Specialties Global worked closely with NEXT Proteins, which launched the world’s first sparkling protein water, fizzique, made with PRObev heat-stable whey protein isolate. The high-protein beverage is available in Tropical Limon and Strawberry Watermelon flavors, with both formulas containing 20g of whey protein isolate. Sweetened with sucralose, they contain 80 calories per can and zero carbs.