Silk, a US plant-based food and beverage brand, is expanding its line of Oat Yeah Oatmilk products with the introduction of new Oat Yeah Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives. The new range combines gluten-free oats with live and active cultures to create a creamy, craveable yogurt, the company says. It is available in four flavors: Vanilla, Mixed Berry, Strawberry and Mango. All varieties are marketed as dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, certified gluten-free, Vegan Action Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Venturing beyond the beverage aisle, Silk’s newest product uses a creamy oat milk base in its yogurt alternatives, which are dairy-free. The vegan yogurts are now available in grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of US$1.89 per 5.3oz cup.

“Creating a yogurt alternative was the natural next step after our well-received Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk beverage launch earlier this year,” says Joshua Cook, brand manager of plant-based yogurt for Silk. “Oat Yeah Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives are a tasty option for any person looking to make progress toward their health and wellness goals – whether they have specific dietary needs or are simply looking to try something new.”

Earlier this week, Swiss flavors and fragrances player Givaudan identified oats as the first on its list of the top six up-and-coming plant-based proteins that “could likely be game-changers for the food industry, and, in particular, nutritional beverages.” Nutritionally, the company notes that oats are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, antioxidants, as well as essential amino acids. The staple is also easily digestible and offers beta glucans, which have been clinically shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. 

Milking the plant-based trend
Dairy alternatives have enjoyed forward momentum as on-trend lactose-free and plant-based offerings have risen in popularity. Dairy companies are closely following developments in this space, which captures the attention of a prominent consumer segment and is expected to flourish in the coming years. In this area, vitamin/mineral fortification, higher protein content and reduced sugar offerings are key.

Research provided by Givaudan outlines that the Global Plant Protein market is expected to grow at 8 percent CAGR to US$13.7 billion by 2021. The flavors specialist further highlights that 57 percent of global consumers are actively seeking protein sources, spurring a 92 percent growth in sales of plant protein products recorded over the previous year.

Contributing to this dynamic market, DuPont’s Danisco is offering a line of VEGE cultures – a new portfolio of cultures specially formulated for the plant-based fermented products market. Danisco VEGE cultures have been developed for a wide-ranging variety of plant-based raw materials – such as soy, coconut, nuts, oat, maize, rice, fruits and vegetables – to satisfy consumer taste and texture expectation. As consumers continue to make health and wellness part of their daily routines, with digestive health remaining a prime concern, the company has recently extended its VEGE cultures portfolio with the addition of gut health-promoting HOWARU Dophilus VG and HOWARU Bifido VG strains.

By Benjamin Ferrer

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