Its prototype beverage features 10g of protein in a 100ml shot, making it suitable for patients who need protein in a low-volume nutritional treatment.
According to the company, as a source of essential amino acids and leucine, whey protein is increasingly in demand in the medical nutrition market. According to Innova Market Insights, the number of global medical nutrition beverage product launches featuring whey protein grew by 9.9% CAGR between 2012 and 2017.
However, high-protein whey beverages can gel over time, taste can be compromised and, if the ingredient is not heat-stable, processing equipment can be blocked.
Added minerals
Arla Foods Ingredients’ beverage prototype is a low-volume (100ml) RTD high-protein nutritional supplement, is UHT-stable and delivers 10% protein content, all of which comes from whey. It also contains added minerals according to FSMP (food for special medical purposes) rules.
The concept utilizes Arla Foods Ingredients’ Lacprodan DI-7325, a whey ingredient specially designed for medical nutrition. The product is suitable for beverages containing minerals, and maintains good viscosity (with no gelation over time) as well as good heat stability.
Increased demand
Inge Lise Povlsen, senior category manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said there is increasing demand for low-volume medical nutritional food and beverages with high levels of protein.
“The excellent nutritional profile of whey protein makes it the perfect ingredient for this,” Povlsen said.
“But the fact is whey proteins can be challenging in beverages when concentration increases. Thanks to Lacprodan DI-7325, your next low-volume, high-protein medical beverage solution will have great heat stability, it won’t gel over time, and it won’t compromise on taste.”
Low-volume, high protein medical beverages made with Lacprodan DI-7325 can carry on-pack messages such as 100% of protein from whey, UHT-stable, and kosher and halal.