Targeting taste and texture: Agropur showcases whey protein ingredients at IFT

16 Jul 2018 --- With the protein trend still going strong, Agropur Ingredients is showcasing two new whey protein solutions at this year’s IFT. Agropur’s new Whey Protein Pods are touted as providing “much sought-after health benefits” and a crunchy texture to both sweet and savory applications, while the company's functional whey protein isolate, named BiPRO Crystal Clear (C.C.), is designed for high clarity and solubility in acidified protein beverages.

The Whey Protein Pods can be used to add an airy texture to nutritional bars while fortifying them with protein. The pods can also be used as multi-functional inclusions in foods such as snack mixes, granola, yogurt and ice cream, the company reports in a press release. 
 
The protein pods contain 70 percent protein and feature a dairy flavor and clean label. Agropur Ingredients - Nutrition Solutions touts the pods as being the ideal topping, inclusion, or standalone snack that can be coated to suit any application. 

“Agropur’s Protein Pods are an excellent solution for today’s nutritional breakfast and snack brands. Not only are the pods neutrally flavored but these unique extrusions provide a fun texture and allow for improved protein content without being disruptive to the base formula,” says Corrie Drellack, Agropur Communications and Marketing Manager.
 
“Innovation in taste, texture and flavor play a significant role when we are formulating for a discerning consumer who considers experiential factors just as important or more important than the nutritional value of the food,” Anand Rao, VP R&D at Agropur Ingredients, tells NutritionInsight. “The demand for whey protein will continue to grow in the sports nutrition arena. In addition, interest in healthy aging will drive applications of whey proteins in the general health & wellness area.”

Purified from fresh sweet dairy whey, BiPRO C.C. is a functional whey protein isolate designed for high clarity and solubility in acidified protein beverages. BiPRO C.C. is pH adjusted and spray dried, resulting in a homogenous, free-flowing, semi-hygroscopic powder with a slightly acidic, clean flavor. According to the company, the ingredient is composed of all major whey protein fractions and is rich in branched chain amino acids. 
 
BiPRO C.C. is designed to facilitate clean label formulation in beverages, without the use of additional acidulants. It is lactose-free and fully soluble over the pH range 2.0 to 9.0. 

Speaking about further R&D projects, Rao tells NutritionInsight that the company will focus “on developing synergies between proteins and other nutritional ingredients to build a holistic approach to healthful products. For example, while formulations with adequate whey proteins slow down sarcopenia, combining them with phospholipids or other ingredients that address memory loss would address multiple needs of an aging population.”

For more highlights to be featured at IFT in Chicago this year, see NutritionInsight's preview.