Arla Foods Ingredients has released a 100 percent whey protein hydrolysate solution specifically developed for sparkling protein water formulations. The debut comes as the functional beverages space is rapidly growing and major retailers are releasing fortified waters with several functional advantages, such as gut health, protein and vitamin immunity. Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear is sugar- and fat-free and is suitable for sports nutrition beverages.
Arla’s new ingredient is touted as delivering an optimized taste, a low bitterness profile and long shelf-life. Moreover, it is lactose-free, low in salt and easy to flavor.
According to the company, full-scale factory trials have shown that Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear can be used to produce sparkling water products with up to 6 percent protein. This makes it straightforward for sports drinks manufacturers to create crystal-clear, sparkling, high-protein RTD beverages with strong health credentials.
“With Lacprodan HYDRO.Clear it is possible to produce a great-tasting, high-protein sparkling water. This means that sports nutrition brands can launch, for example, a standard 330ml can contain 20g of whey protein per serving, making it perfect for sports nutrition users,” says Joe Katterfield, Health and Performance Nutrition Development Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients.
“The concept is also ideal for lifestyle and soft drink brands, as it allows them to offer a great source of protein in convenient and refreshing on-the-go format that will appeal to all ages,” he adds.
Innova Market Insights reports that there was a 188 percent growth in new products with a high/source of protein positioning and a 65 percent rise in energy/alertness positions from 2013-2017. In 2017, more than five percent of new global food & beverage launches featured protein claims, with CAGR of 29 percent from 2013-2017.
The new ingredient comes as protein waters are experiencing an uptick in demand and while protein drinks without the added fat and sugar content are a growing consumer demand. According to a NutritionInsight webinar poll, industry developers are targeting on-the-go beverage solutions, with items that incorporate between 10 and 20 grams of protein, proving especially popular.
Sales of functional and fortified waters, meanwhile, rose by 4 percent a year from 2013-2017 and are forecast to grow by 6 percent a year from 2018-2022. The carbonates segment is also robust, with a 22 percent a year increase in new launches globally between 2007 and 2017.l
