PETpla.net Insider 03 / 2018

BEVERAGE INGREDIENTS PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 03/18 www.petpla.net 18 With protein enrichment increasingly moving into more mainstream products, taste has become a crucial concern Masking the taste of protein Protein is a mega trend. Formerly used by athletes as a staple for building muscle, most consumers are now well aware of the need for high protein levels in their diet. However, manufacturers who want to capitalise on its current popularity and include protein in their formulations are faced with sensorial disadvantages associated with most of the available protein sources. Animal as well as vegetable variants often add an unpleasant mouthfeel and off-notes that can best be described as dry and bitter, or even cardboard-like. To mask these undesirable attributes, Sensient Flavors, one of the world’s leading flavour manufac- turers, has developed a solution that is based on a combination of different flavouring tech- nologies. This approach is suitable for all protein sources and can be applied to all kinds of flavoured products. The number of consumers seeking out foods with high protein content has skyrocketed in the past years. By 2018, the global market for protein ingredients is forecast to increase in value to $31 billion (based on esti- mates by Frost & Sullivan and Grand View Research). Consumers buy into protein-rich products for health reasons in particular. They want to increase their muscle mass, maintain their weight or achieve a toned and well-defined body – and protein is the perfect ingredient for reaching these goals. It is also very beneficial for the body as it grows older. In view of the world’s ageing population, it therefore has the potential to help vast numbers of people lead more active lifestyles. Another protein plus-point lies in con- sumer perception: fats and carbohy- drates are split into “good” and “bad” variants by health professionals. How- ever, proteins are generally perceived as being “good” and thus as a key ele- ment of a balanced and healthy diet for all age groups. Applications The current high demand for protein has stimulated the creative- ness of product developers across the globe, with innovation in high protein launches having been driven by the snack and dairy segments in BEVERAGE +ingredients