The demand for plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products is rising around the world. But plant-based products can be successful only if they offer consumers convincing flavour and texture.

At the IFT Food Expo, which will take place in New Orleans between June 3 and 5, 2019, Hydrosol, one of the world’s leading suppliers of stabilising and texturing systems, will present the latest generation of functional systems, and all-in compounds for making plant-based burger patties, cold cuts and sausages, as well as vegan alternatives to pizza cheese, cream cheese and sour cream.

Burgers, meatballs, bacon - Wide range of meat alternatives
In the meat category, Hydrosol, which is exhibiting at the SternMaid Ingredients, is focussing on popular products like plant-based burger patties. One of its feature products for the expo is HydroTop Vegan Patty PP.

What makes this stabilising and texturing system special is that fact that it is free of soy, wheat and other allergens.

It is based on fava bean and pea protein and also contains a sunflower-based texturate, and enables users to make vegan burger patties that are amazingly similar to meat products in taste, texture and mouthfeel.

Another plus point is that since it has just one e-number, it aligns with the trend towards declaration-friendly products. 

In addition to this allergen-free vegan functional system, Hydrosol also offers proven systems based on wheat and soy protein with wheat texturate, that give extraordinarily delicious burger patties.

These all-in compounds are also suitable for many other vegan products, from meatball alternatives to vegan cevapcici. They are freeze-/thaw-stable and can be worked into ready meals with no problems. 

Other products for plant-based meat alternatives are all-in compounds for making vegan cold cuts and bacon, and plant-based sausages for eating hot or cold. Nuggets, schnitzel, fish sticks and other breaded products are also possible. 

Vegan alternatives to dairy products for US eating habits
To meet the rising demand for vegan dairy alternatives, Hydrosol will present a number of product ideas that address American preferences at IFT.

The company offers a variety of plant-based ingredients for favourites like pizza, bagels and burgers, including a pizza topping that can substitute for cheese.

Like traditional pizza cheese, this vegan product has very good melt properties, which is not always the case with vegan alternatives. The plant-based topping is also stringy when hot, a critical factor for cheese intended for melted toppings.

In the cream cheese category, from plant proteins Hydrosol has developed a texturing system that can be used to make vegan bagel spreads. These are very close to real cream cheese in taste and texture, and have an equally wide range of uses, plain or with herbs or other additional ingredients. 

A vegan alternative to sour cream that cannot be told from the original – one of Hydrosol’s answers to the growing consumer demand for clean label products.

This plant-based sour cream is free of e-numbers, and is based on almond drink and coconut fat.

Together with a Hydrosol stabilising and texturing system, it gives a sour cream alternative that is perfect as a topping for burgers and burritos or a dip for potato wedges and chips.

In many markets, Hydrosol is already an established source of full-service solutions. The company is also making its mark at the IFT, among other things with its all-in package for purely plant-based burgers.

This contains burger patties, bacon, and a sauce that uses no egg yolk, plus a vegan sliced cheese alternative that melts easily and harmonises well with the final product.

Sister company SternVitamin provides suitable micronutrient premixes to fortify vegan alternative products.