Arla Foods Ingredients unveils fermented protein drink as RTD beverage demand proliferates

01 Nov 2022 --- Arla Foods Ingredients is introducing the Refreshing Fermented Protein drink within the healthy beverage space. The new solution, based on 100% whey-based hydrolysates Lacprodan HYDRO.365 and Nutrilac FO-8571, opens up new possibilities for enhancing fermented protein beverages, the company highlights.

The whey-based solution enables the production of clear, high-protein fermented beverages as it considerably reduces cloudiness and sedimentation.

Arla Foods Ingredients adds that there is a huge demand for novel ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, as evidenced by the increasing popularity of kombucha, drinking yogurts and clear protein drinks.

“The market for healthy beverages is incredibly dynamic, with categories like kombucha enjoying phenomenal success,” says Barbara Jensen, sales development manager at Arla Foods Ingredients.

“Our goal is always to help our customers lead innovation – now we’re giving them opportunities to offer consumers a new twist on fermented protein beverages – a category that’s already very exciting. With this new solution, they can create on-trend beverages that are high in protein and probiotics and stand out from the pack because of their clear, refreshing appearance.”

Fermented protein beverages
Fermented protein beverages are a recent innovation that provide synergistic health benefits because protein helps probiotics grow and remain viable. Probiotic-infused beverages have been shown to support immune health and lower blood pressure.

Arla Foods Ingredients’ solution enables the production of fermented drinks that are high in protein.Manufacturers can use it with thermophilic cultures for fermented drinks or mesophilic cultures for beverages resembling kombucha, both of which are lactose-free and high in probiotics. Additionally, they can be made on a standard yogurt processing line.

In the fermented beverage space, Pulp Culture secured a US$7 million Series A fundraising round to advance the market for fermented beverages and change consumers’ perceptions of functional and fermented beverages that contain alcohol. 

Solutions for sports nutrition and kidney disease
Within its previous innovations, Denmark-based Arla Foods Ingredients introduced the concept functional drink to help with recovery and rehydration. The Lacprodan SP-9213 whey protein isolate, which the manufacturer claims can maintain its functionality when combined with electrolytes, is an ingredient of the RTD sports nutrition solution.

The company also released two high-protein products for those with chronic kidney disease. Both products – an RTD beverage with 7% protein and a shot format with 21% protein – use the novel protein ingredient Lacprodan BLG-100.

Edited by Nicole Kerr