Clarisoy ‘invisible’ protein set for summer launch, says ADM

21-Feb-2012 - Last updated on 21-Feb-2012 at 14:35 GMT

Clarisoy was a big hit at the IFT show last year

Clarisoy, the invisible protein developed by Burcon and commercialized by ADM, will be available in commercial quantities by the summer, ADM has revealed.

ADM struck a global licensing deal with Canadian firm Burcon NutraScience to produce, distribute and sell Clarisoy in March 2011 and plans to manufacture it at its soy protein manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois.

Marketing and customer development manager Courtney B. Kingery told NutraIngredients-USA: “The new production facility is on-schedule for full commercial quantities to be available in summer 2012. “

Sports nutrition beverages, fruit juices, fruit and vegetable drinks

Meanwhile, work was progressing well with potential customers, who have been testing samples of the soy protein for several months, she said.

“We are seeing strong interest from beverage manufacturers incorporating Clarisoy 100 into sport nutrition beverages, fruit juices and even fruit and vegetable blends.

“ADM is working with several customers to commercialize beverages. There has been strong interest in Clarisoy from the beverage industry and trade.

“Feedback from customers has been very positive. They are impressed by the clarity, stability and bland taste of Clarisoy 100 in low pH beverage applications."

Global interest

Asked what type of companies were most interested in Clarisoy, she said: “ADM is working with a variety of beverage companies targeting a variety of markets from the major beverage brands to more regional fruit juice companies.”

As to where the interest is coming from, she added: “In addition to US companies, ADM is seeing strong interest from Central American, South American and European beverage manufacturers.

“South and Central America beverage companies are interested in CLARISOY 100 for powdered beverages."

A winner at IFT

The near-transparent protein was showcased by ADM in an orange/mango juice drink at the IFT show in New Orleans last summer, with customers impressed by the “clean flavor, lower viscosity and smooth mouth feel of the beverage”, claimed a spokeswoman.

“We were repeatedly told that it just tasted like juice and they couldn’t even tell there was soy in the drink.”

For drinks with a pH of less than 4, Clarisoy 100 is heat-stable, 100% soluble and transparent, with no off flavors or odors and no ‘beany’ taste sometimes associated with soy, making it ideal for sports nutrition beverages, fruit and fruit-flavored juices, powdered beverage mixes and fortified waters, said ADM.

“What’s unique about Clarisoy is that you can use it in acidic beverages. Usually, if you put soy in a low pH drink, it will start to precipitate and you have to try and keep it in a suspension. This is not an issue with Clarisoy.”

The 20-year license agreement with Burcon gives ADM exclusive rights to sell Clarisoy across all markets and in all potential product applications. Under the deal, ADM will pay Burcon a quarterly percentage of net revenues as royalties.