International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has just launched SUPRO® TEX – a breakthrough innovation in whole-muscle pieces of plant protein meat alternatives. 

Delivered in an easy-to-use format, IFF’s versatile extruded protein features whole muscle meat texture that consumers crave, further expanding plant-based food opportunities.

 

NYSE-listed IFF announced the global launch of its next generation plant-based protein – SUPRO® TEX – to accelerate growth in the meat alternative category beyond ground meat burgers. This new solution unlocks the door for rapid innovation in the meat alternative space because of its unique texture and versatility. 

SUPRO® TEX provides a very similar texture to chunky pieces of whole muscle animal protein in an easy-to-use format that does not require major capital investment for manufacturers to begin production. Produced in irregularly shaped pieces, the new 80-per-cent protein SUPRO® TEX is based on soy protein – a complete, high-quality protein, comparable in quality to animal protein. As a dry product, it eliminates the need for a cold supply chain, simplifying and reducing shipping costs and storage.

Breakthrough plant-based technology

 

“What makes SUPRO®  TEX stand out in the plant-based space is that, for the first time, meat alternative manufacturers can make tender, plant-based protein, whole muscle pieces or chunks without the need for major capital investments or a refrigerated supply chain,” said Michel Mellema, global innovation director of IFF’s RE-IMAGINE PROTEIN® program. “This is the latest from IFF’s RE-IMAGINE PROTEIN® program, where we accelerate the development of breakthrough ingredients and technologies to meet the needs of our customers and consumers. By combining science and creativity, we’re developing an end-to-end portfolio of plant-based solutions that pushes past traditional boundaries to change the way people eat.”

 

By 2035, market researchers predict that one-in-10 portions of protein are likely to be plant-based1. Today, consumers of plant-based meat alternatives are primarily motivated by their health and wellbeing, yet sustainability and ethical concerns are becoming increasingly important to them. Because more than 40 per cent of global consumers2 are highly interested in meat alternatives with the same taste and texture as animal-origin meat, SUPRO® TEX was designed specifically to deliver a similar meat-eating experience that consumers crave.  

 

“This is a paradigm shift,” said Mellema. “We are expanding our offerings to more meat alternative players. Today, we have solutions and technical knowledge to support customers who use High Moisture Extrusion technology (HME), which is an excellent technology, but not necessarily suitable for all meat alternative players. That’s why we developed SUPRO® TEX – a single, easy-to-use product that can deliver similar texture to what HME products provide, but without major capital investments.”

Endless product design & formulation opportunities 

  

SUPRO® TEX offers endless product design and formulation opportunities with its high-process tolerance, neutral flavour, and colour. Manufacturers can easily reproduce pieces of differently textured meats just by adjusting hydration levels and custom flavour systems – imagine a tender beef bourguignon, chicken stir fry or pork fajitas – but all 100-per-cent plant-based. 

 

“In a patent-pending process, soy protein is combined with other texturants to improve the firmness of the protein pieces after hydration,” explained Ulrik Madsen, culinary designer at IFF. “Due to their unique composition, SUPRO® TEX chunks retain their texture throughout manufacturing – without breaking apart when in a tumbler or simmering – as compared to typical low-moisture extruded products.”

 

Flavors and colours are added during the product hydration process, so they become evenly distributed and better absorbed among pieces. SUPRO® TEX pieces are gluten-free and require no animal products, such as eggs, to be added to the end products to achieve optimal performance. 

 

For more information about the SUPRO® TEX, go to: www4.iff.com/supro-tex-2022

 

1. BCG Food for Thought, The Protein Transformation, 2021

2. Protein Report, Health Focus International, 2021