Whey and milk proteins score high in quality, sensory appeal.
September 12, 2018
As ingredients, whey and milk proteins "address formulator needs for sustainably produced, nutritious, functional, tasteful, versatile, consumer-appealing, securely sourced ingredients for use in food and beverage products"
The global health and wellness trend provides a great opportunity to showcase the benefits dairy foods and ingredients provide to people of all ages, around the world. Beyond essential nutrient delivery, dairy foods are naturally high in protein and can play an important role in positive health outcomes.
In September, researchers, manufacturers and end users of whey protein from around the world gathered in Chicago for the eighth International Whey Conference. A key takeaway from the conference is that whey protein continues to be the “gold standard” for fueling muscle protein synthesis (MPS).
There is plenty of room in the growing protein category for dairy-based and plant-based sources. In fact, there are good reasons to formulate with a blend of dairy and plant proteins.
Demand for plant proteins — and not just soy, but pea, seed, bean and more — is reinvigorating the sector in whole new ways. While a 2015 report by the research firm MarketsandMarkets predicted dairy proteins will reach a value of $18 billion by 2020, plant proteins are hardly far behind. Mordor Intelligence research from 2017 estimates their value will top $14 million by 2022.
Providing a complete protein is one of the many qualities that makes dairy indispensable. These high-quality proteins that function across broad applications make dairy ingredients attractive to a wide audience. This is important as the demand for high-protein products continues to grow and protein inclusion in products becomes an expectation. Now brands are striving for robust claims to satisfy their protein-hungry customers.
Aging muscles need up to 40 grams of protein at each meal. Look to the breakfast table when developing new concepts because the first meal of the day often lacks sufficient protein.
The World Health Organization predicts that the percent of the world’s population over 60 years of age will nearly double in the next 35 years, growing to 22% in 2050 from 12% in 2015.
Consumers’ awareness of how much protein they need daily is low. For dairy marketers, here’s an opportunity to promote the protein content of yogurt, cottage cheese and cultured beverages.
Human Nutrition 101 has always told us that dietary protein is essential for health and wellness. Dietary proteins provide amino acids, the building blocks of structural and functional compounds we need to live healthy and active lives.
It’s not just elite athletes who need protein. The ingredient holds benefits for everyone, from children to seniors and from recreational athletes to those seeking to lose weight.
Protein may be a macronutrient the deficiency of which portends dire consequences for health. But it is amply represented in the American diet already. A 2015 analysis of the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that American men consume, on average, close to 100 grams of protein per day — nearly double the 56 grams generally recommended for the group.