Illinois-based food manufacturer Spectrum Foods has developed a new line of non-GMO and organic soy ingredients to be sold under the Nexsoy brand name.
The range contains only identity-preserved, non-genetically modified soy ingredients and is also available certified organic.
The process used for all Nexsoy products is chemical-free and is said to result in soy ingredients which are free of the 'soy' taste that some consumers find unpalatable.
Spectrum chairman A.L. Maiocco explained that the company's manufacturing process does not use the chemical hexane, traditionally used in most soy ingredients. This method is believed to be responsible for the 'grassy' or 'beany' flavor that has historically hurt the acceptance of soyfoods, he said.
In the Nexsoy process, "the result is a very bland, naturally-produced soy ingredient that can be used by food manufacturers without negatively impacting the flavor of their product."
Maiocco added that current trends in Europe and Asia, where consumers are interested in knowing how foods have been modified, are starting to be seen in the US too.
"By using non-GMO soy ingredients US food manufacturers may be able to open up new export markets for their products where the sale of genetically-modified products is highly restricted," said Maiocco.
According to the US Soyfood Council, the market for soyfoods in the US in 1999 was $2 billion. Overall market growth is projected to be $6 billion by 2005.
Other Nexsoy products include expeller-pressed and physically-refined soybean oil, low-fat soy flour and soy grits, soy and rice cereal bases, and a range of textured soy proteins (TSP) used in meat replacement products. All of the products are certified kosher.