A vast number of consumers are focusing on eating fewer animal products and more plant-based alternatives, but they are not willing to compromise on taste, texture and nutritional aspects such as protein content. However, replacing dairy in recipe development can cause technical challenges. BENEO offers solutions for these challenges with the help of functional ingredients.
Consumers are Looking for Dairy Alternatives
With nearly 1 in 2 consumers across the globe now interested in plant-based foods and beverages,1 reducing dairy consumption is well and truly on consumer agendas. In fact, according to recent research, 65% of global consumers say they have changed their diet to reduce dairy consumption.2 When it comes to the 1 in 4 consumers worldwide who call themselves flexitarians,3 approximately half buy alternatives to dairy and 1 in 3 purchase plant-based sweets like chocolate.
Seventy percent of global consumers say that protein quality and content are important in plant-based dairy alternatives.4 Not surprisingly, taste and texture are key drivers to repeat purchase. Offering a similar full-bodied mouthfeel as products containing dairy is an important goal.
Dairy-Free Ingredient Innovations
With demand for plant-based products continuing to grow, producers who can meet consumer expectations will be the ones who can fully capitalize on this trend.
Thanks to the product development work of functional ingredients providers such as BENEO, there are now a range of options for producers to deliver plant-based dairy alternatives with exciting textures and tastes with an optimized nutritional profile.
Faba bean ingredients can help manufacturers cater to this demand. New figures show that 89% of consumers worldwide consider pulses/legumes an appealing protein source, while 3 in 4 perceive faba beans as sustainable and 4 in 5 regard it to be a nutritious protein source.5 In fact, global product launches with faba bean ingredients almost doubled between 2017-2022.6 After meat/fish, dairy was the second largest category for faba product launches.
The launch of BENEO’s faba bean ingredients follows a €50 million investment into its new pulse processing site in Offstein, Germany. The production site will further strengthen the company’s
The launch of BENEO’s faba bean ingredients follows a €50 million investment into its new pulse processing site in Offstein, Germany. The production site will further strengthen the company’s plant-based protein portfolio and enable BENEO to meet growing demand for plant-based food ingredients.
Neutral Taste, Endless Possibilities with Faba Bean Proteins
With taste being an important buying incentive for consumers, producers must choose high-quality ingredients that have a clean, neutral taste for dairy alternative product development. In the past, the taste of plant proteins had a limiting effect on their appeal. However, thanks to increasing efforts in new product development, we have developed high-quality plant proteins with a neutral taste and other technical benefits, which deliver in terms of both taste and texture.
The versatility of faba bean ingredients benefits both manufacturers and consumers. As a vegetal protein, BENEO’s faba bean protein concentrate can be used to replace animal protein (milk, egg), as well as soy protein in certain applications. It also has an excellent amino acid profile, high solubility and very good emulsifying properties. As a result, it is ideal for use in a wide range of dairy alternative products, including vegan beverages like smoothies or plant-based coffee creamers.
The Power of Nutritional Values
Even though appealing taste and texture are important purchase factors for dairy alternatives, now more than ever, nutritional value is key. In order to stand out on the shelf, manufacturers are looking to make their products naturally functional, e.g., by reducing sugar and at the same time, adding ingredients such as prebiotic fiber and (plant-based) protein. A consumer survey on behalf of BENEO highlights that 3 in 5 buyers of plant-based drinks consult the nutritional information when buying new food or beverages.7
This is where functional ingredients, such as faba bean protein, provide a powerful solution. Faba bean protein is a high-quality plant-based protein with a balanced amino acid profile. Its versatility allows for seamless integration into dairy alternatives, supporting their nutritional value without compromising taste or texture. Additionally, faba bean protein aligns with the growing consumer demand for plant-based products.
Future Trends in the Dairy Segment
We’re seeing some interesting developments in plant-based cheese and expect growing consumer demand in this area over the coming year. In fact, over a third of adults in the UK (37%) would like to see a greater variety of plant-based cheeses in supermarkets.8
To help manufacturers tap into this emerging trend, the BENEO-Technology Center has been exploring opportunities in plant-based cheese and has developed a new recipe for a feta-like cheese alternative. Using a unique combination of BENEO’s inulin, starch and faba bean protein ingredients, the team has created a clean-label, plant-based product with a brittle, feta-like texture and a pleasant taste.
Versatile and easy to use, it’s perfect for salads, as well as warm and cold dishes. By incorporating the benefits of chicory root fiber and faba bean protein, the Nutri-Score of this feta-like cheese improved from “E” to “C.”
Sustainability messaging is also of increasing importance as there is significant concern for the environment and animal welfare amongst consumers. In fact, BENEO’s consumer survey shows that 1 in 2 consumers take the environmental impact of their diet into account.9 With the increased scrutiny on ingredient sustainability, faba beans help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the farm level. Faba beans naturally capture nitrogen from the air, enriching the soil for their own growth and benefiting subsequent crops, reducing the need for fertilizer.
Moreover, through the company’s dry fractionation process, BENEO uses renewable electricity, eliminates the need for process water and maximizes sustainability by using 100% of the faba bean in food and feed applications.
In addition, BENEO strives to source its faba beans from German farmers at the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) Gold level. The ingredient production process, carried out locally in Germany, was chosen for its low energy and water consumption compared to alternative methods.
Want to learn even more about faba bean ingredients? Visit our website: https://www.beneo.com/trends/faba-sustainable-replacements.
1. BENEO 2024 Healthy ageing & heart health survey
2. BENEO 2024 Healthy ageing & heart health survey
3. Mintel: A Year of Innovation in Cheese 2022
4. BENEO Global Plant-Based Survey 2021
5. Innova Meat, Dairy and Alternative Protein Survey 2024
6. Innova Top 10 Trends 2024, Plant-based
7. BENEO Global Plant-Based and Meat Hybrids Survey 2023
8. BENEO Global Plant-Based and Meat Hybrids Survey 2023
9. Mintel GNPD
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