“New superfood”: Alfalfa ingredient steps up on sustainability

17 Apr 2018 --- Luzixeen, developed by L-RD (Luzerne (Alfalfa – Research & Development) have integrated an innovative technical approach to their biorefinery process, which enables the entire alfalfa crop to be used. The process of valirsation makes it possible to take advantage of the total plant, which is local to France. Luzixeen is based on sustainable farming of the local alfalfa, and they tout the environmental benefits of the eco-compatible culture which they also hail as a “new superfood.”

In 1970, the France Luzerne cooperative union introduced an extraction process before the alfalfa dehydration process in order to increase the nutritional potential of alfalfa in food. Luzixeen state that only two factories apply this process globally.

The alfalfa is harvested, chopped, and taken to the factory, either to be processed immediately or after a waiting time, "on the factory floor," which does not exceed two hours, to avoid enzymatic proteolysis and the oxidation of pigments. The process is as follows:

• Pressing: Alfalfa is pressed to provide a fibrous residue and a green pressing juice, which contains around 32 percent crude proteins.
• Steam Injection: Pre-heating followed by steam injection at an average temperature of 85°C allows the proteins present to coagulate with the related carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments.
• Centrifugation: The protein coagulum is separated from the mother liquor (or serum) by centrifugal decantation.
• Dying: The protein coagulum is dried in a fluid bed dryer at temperatures that are low enough to preserve pigments. This thermal treatment eliminates bacteria and anti-nutritional, thermosensitive substances like the antitrypsin factor.
• Cooling: The protein concentrate is then cooled and packed

Eco-friendly crop
As well as a technological process that minimizes waste, the company touts alfalfa as an eco-friendly crop. The alfalfa, due to its root system, prevents soil erosion and fixes nitrogen which limits the use of inputs and nitrate leakage in soils and aquifers. 

These processes distinguish it as an eco-compatible culture. L-RD also state that all stages of the dehydrated alfalfa sector are obliged to, such as seed certification, the organization of the crop, harvest planning, and improvement of the dehydration process.

Health “superfood”
Luzixeen also offers rich health benefits, such as its richness in proteins and micronutrients such as Iron, Vitamins A and E and calcium. This richness is also complimented by its iron content, “which makes it a healthy alternative to meat and fish, ideal for vegetarians and vegans, but also for undernourished populations.” 

L-RD detail a Peruvian study on children aged 3 to 5 that showed that a daily intake of 10 g of Luzixeen leads to a faster normalization of markers of under-nutrition (protidemia and albuminemia) than milk powder.

“What makes Luzixeen different to other plant-based proteins is its particular amino acid profile with the presence of essential amino acids such as valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenyl-alanine, tryptophan, threonine and lysine. Moreover, the chemical score of alfalfa protein is 108, with 100 [being] the maximum standard as defined by the WHO,” Valentine Claudon, Business Development Manager, L-RD, tells NutritionInsight last year.

Ethical, health-conscious consumers
Luzixeen as an ingredient is marketed as attending to multiple consumer interests. For example, consumers are looking for products that they can trust, and in this way, they should be naturally healthy, minimally processed and play a part in respecting the planet, state Luzixeen. 

Products that can solidify a sustainable, and traceable supply chain and market this to the consumer are, arguably, in a strong position as consumers place these factors as very high on their list of expectations from manufacturers.

Clean label products continue to be an established trend, with Innova Market Insight data noting that products with clean label claims accounted for 26 percent of new global food & beverage launches in 2016, with 16 percent CAGR in introductions with these claims in recent years (2012-2016). The clean label appeal is becoming increasingly mainstream.

Concerning applications of the “superfood”, Luzixeen can be sprinkled on to salad, soup or yogurt and it also can be used in the formulation of bars, drinks, food supplements, biscuits and high-protein shakes.

L-RD will be showcasing their Luzixeen “superfood” at Vitafoods this May in Geneva. You can view the preview of the show, here.