The new pea protein was reportedly designed specifically for beverage applications, with flavor and consistency key differentiators to other pea proteins in the market, according to DuPont. Pea protein, which is produced from yellow peas, lies at the intersection of three major trends driving the food industry: strong consumer demand for protein, desire for plant-based alternatives and clean label, added the company.
Data from internal consumer tests revealed TRUPRO 2000 Pea Protein scored higher on overall liking, as well as flavor, thickness, mouthfeel and aftertaste liking.
“With TRUPRO 2000 Pea Protein, the most dramatic improvements we’ve seen are in flavor and mouthfeel liking, with scores improving 45% and 57% respectively, compared to competitive offerings,” said Rosa Sanchez, Beverage Applications Lead, DuPont Nutrition & Health.
“From its inception, our goal with TRUPRO 2000 Pea Protein was to raise the bar on flavor and product consistency,” said Dan Staerk, Protein R&D Lead. “We are very encouraged with the results we’ve gathered to-date, demonstrating that lot-to-lot, TRUPRO 2000 is very consistent on important quality parameters such as suspension, color, solubility and dispersibility.”
The ingredient is described as a free-flowing powder that is 83% protein (dry basis). The powder is light tan in color and it is derived from North American yellow peas.
Our evolution into pea proteins is a natural fit for our business, which has historically centered on delivering the widest, most functional and versatile range of soy proteins in the market today,” added Jean Heggie, strategic marketing lead, Protein Solutions Business Unit, DuPont Nutrition & Health.. “In the development of TRUPRO pea protein, we’ve successfully applied what we know about optimizing functionality, quality and flavor of soy proteins to deliver a better pea protein solution to the marketplace. For brands seeking to capitalize on the popularity of plant protein, TRUPRO pea protein products are a perfect solution.”
A beverage demo at SupplySide West in Las Vegas in November will showcase the new ingredient.