‘Clean label’ and ‘sustainable’ are two powerful drivers of consumers' buying decisions, but the real winners will always be taste and texture. Health-conscious consumers may try a brand once, but if they don't like it, they won't keep buying it just because it's healthy. There's very little room for trade-offs, and it's up to food manufacturers to make sure that customers have it both ways.

When it comes to plant-based meat alternatives, the Holy Grail is a plant-based protein that keeps the same bite and texture of animal meat. Ingredient providers know this all too well, and constantly try to give formulators as much functionality as possible. 

Ingredion's recent answer to this challenge has been the launch on the US and Canadian markets of a textured pea protein called VITESSENSE TEX Crumbles 102. The ingredient has a protein content of 65% and is high in potassium (mg 1,250 per 100g). It's also non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, Kosher- and Halal-certified.

For many years, soy was the undisputed number one source of plant-based protein. However, market for pea protein has been growing steadily. According to a study by McKinsey , interest in pea protein (measured in number of internet queries) grew at a CAGR of 30 percent from 2004 to 2019.

One of the main features of VITESSENCE® TEX Crumbles 102 is the ease of hydration. According to the company's press release, the ingredient allows for room-temperature hydration, and provides flexible hydration time and water ratio, versatile particle size, and superior firmness and particle integrity in the post-hydration step.

When added to formulations, VITESSENCE® TEX Crumbles 102 provides texture, chewiness, and firmness to help mimic the texture of meat in patties, crumbles, and sausage alternatives. It also increases protein content in meat alternative formulations.

“VITESSENCE TEX Crumbles 102 textured protein helps food developers formulate alternative meat products without compromising taste and texture,” said Kristen Germana, Ingredion’s senior manager, business development, Plant-Based Proteins. “Ingredion’s broad plant-based protein portfolio and tested formulation experience mean that developers now have a complete toolkit for creating alternative meat products that mimic the bite and chew of animal proteins.”

Learn more about VITESSENCE TEX.