FrieslandCampina DMV set to launch ultra-clean Nutri Whey Isolate

Published: 1-Nov-2018

The whey protein isolate is poised to power protein drink innovation

FrieslandCampina DMV, the Dutch dairy protein people, are set to power up innovation in the performance and lifestyle nutrition arena with the launch of an ultra-clean whey protein isolate. For product developers in this space, Nutri Whey Isolate represents an exciting new proposition: a pure, neutral-tasting, nutritionally balanced protein form that can deliver unprecedented clarity in protein water and clear drinks applications.

This is the first time that FrieslandCampina DMV has offered a whey protein isolate. Proprietary R&D advancements that have yielded a minimally-processed, high-performance isolate, coupled with a desire to meet latest market needs for high protein products, are the drivers behind its move into this ingredient space.

“We know dairy proteins inside out so have long had the expertise to produce whey protein isolates. However, our R&D is driven by a desire to push boundaries and we wouldn’t have been happy with bringing to market a ‘me too’ product. With its ability to perform in clear beverages at high concentrations and its minimal processing credentials, Nutri Whey Isolate offers clear advantages versus what is already out there. The opportunities abound for adding value to our customers’ product development,” said Diderik Moerdijk, marketing segment manager at FrieslandCampina DMV’s Performance Nutrition division.

He added: “The market conditions are ripe for the introduction of Nutri Whey Isolate. Growth prospects for the performance and health nutrition sector are huge and one of the trends shaping this space is ‘mainstreaming’, as an increasingly large cross-section of the population seeks out products that support their active and healthy lifestyle aspirations. These consumers want products that are natural, nutrient-rich and efficacious, but also have high demands around taste and convenience. With its low carb, pure protein, neutral taste, clean and ‘near-natural’ credentials, Nutri Whey is ideally placed to meet this demand.”

FrieslandCampina DMV set to launch ultra-clean Nutri Whey Isolate

High protein drinks or waters are one of the product concepts that really resonates with this growing mainstream consumer base since it meets the healthy ready-to-go option. From a product development perspective, the difficulties are achieving clarity at anything other than very low pH levels and an acceptable taste profile. The proprietary Nutri Whey production process yields an exceptionally clean isolate that maintains clarity even at high pH levels – stretching the potential application spectrum for isolates into unchartered territory. Whilst the functional properties of some rival isolates are impaired by heat treatments, such as multiple pasteurization steps, FrieslandCampina DMV applies minimal heat load, protecting the nutritional integrity and sensory quality of the isolate.

Raw material selection and quality also play a crucial role in determining the taste profile of finished product – some cheese cultures can result in a whey with high salt levels, acidic notes and undesired colour agent residues. FrieslandCampina’s vertically integrated supply chain enables complete control over the raw materials that form the basis of its ingredients. The Nutri Whey Isolate originates from high quality Gouda cheese whey and this produces a neutral tasting isolate that is low in salt and contains no undesired colour agent, nor does it contain artificial ingredients such as sweeteners or additives.

Nutri Whey Isolate will be produced in a newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility, adjacent to the firm’s Vivinal GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides) production plant in Borculo, The Netherlands, and has been built to the same exacting infant formula production standards as its neighbour. Deploying the latest micro-filtration techniques, this ultra-modern process yields isolates that are so clean that they also have potential application in medical and senior nutrition products. Their low lactose content also lends the isolates to inclusion in products positioned on an immunity or digestive health platform. Cold brew coffee, ice cream, dairy desserts and ketogenic products are among the other concepts that could be powered by Nutri Whey Isolates.

Whether customers come to FrieslandCampina DMV with a joint NPD project or a request for an incremental product recipe improvement, FrieslandCampina DMV’s experienced team can provide start-to-finish technical support. From its global innovation centre on the Wageningen campus, or via local Technical Sales Support, FrieslandCampina DMV will work shoulder-to-shoulder with its partners to perform rigorous application research, sensory testing and validation to support customers.

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