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Goodmills Innovation, a clean label ingredients provider based in Hamburg, Germany, has developed a new wheat and fava bean protein claimed to offer an ‘amazingly close to meat-like’ texture.

The new solution, Vitatex Wheat Fava Flakes SVP Pro, is described as a robust, clean label texturate for products with a pronounced fibre and layer structure, and long-lasting bite.

The co-texturisation of wheat and fava bean protein promotes amino acid cross-linking, which can enable the creation of realistic meat-like alternatives to products such as pulled meat, barbecue skewers or sliced meat. The fava bean compensates for the low levels of lysine in the wheat component, ensuring an optomised amino acid profile, while the wheat content ensures better availability of methionine.

Antje Dittrich, application manager for plant-based at Goodmills Innovation, explained: “While limited cross-linking occurs when proteins are individually textured and then blended, the co-extrusion process incites strong cross-linking activity that results in a stable, cohesive structure with distinct layers and a long-lasting bite. This technology allows us to achieve a meat-like structure, which is ideal for products where bite and mouthfeel are key to enjoyment.”

The coarse granulation of the Vitatex Wheat Fava Flakes SVP Pro allows for easy handling and further processing after a short soaking time. Additionally, the flakes have a high water absorption capacity (up to 1.9 times water absorption) and remain stable under mechanical stress.

According to Goodmills, they resist shearing forces during the production process and retain a fibrous structure even after frying, boiling, cooking in convection ovens, defrosting or deep frying. The solution also retains its structure during pasteurisation and sterilization processes.

The light texture is designed for easy colouring if required, and absorbs flavours well while also offering fewer off-notes than with pea protein-based products, Goodmills added. The solution is non-GMO and sourced from EU-certified raw materials, leveraging the benefits of regionally grown and sustainably sourced European fava beans.