A new concept from Arla Foods Ingredients is set to overcome the challenges of producing high-quality whey protein beverages for medical purposes. The prototype beverage packs 10g of protein into a 100ml shot, making it ideal for patients who need plenty of high-quality protein in a low-volume nutritional treatment.

As an excellent source of essential amino acids and leucine, whey protein is increasingly in demand in the medical nutrition market. According to Innova Market Insights, the number of global medical nutrition beverage product launches featuring whey protein grew by 9.9% CAGR between 2012 and 2017.

However, the production of high-protein whey beverages comes with challenges. They can gel over time, taste can be compromised and, if the ingredient is not heat-stable, processing equipment can be blocked.

Now Arla Foods Ingredients has created a beverage prototype that overcomes these challenges. The company’s application experts have successfully developed a low-volume (100ml) RTD high-protein nutritional supplement. Developed for medical nutrition manufacturers, it is UHT-stable and delivers 10% protein content, all of which comes from whey.It also contains added minerals according to FSMP (Food for special medical purposes) rules.

The concept utilises Arla Foods Ingredients’ Lacprodan® DI-7325, a high-quality whey ingredient specially designed for medical nutrition. With a great taste, Lacprodan® DI-7325 is suitable for beverages containing minerals, and maintains good viscosity (with no gelation over time) as well as good heat stability.

Inge Lise Povlsen, Senior Category Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “There is increasing demand for low-volume medical nutritional food and beverages with high levels of high-quality protein. The excellent nutritional profile of whey protein makes it the perfect ingredient for this. But the fact is whey proteins can be challenging in beverages when concentration increases. Thanks to Lacprodan® DI-7325, your next low-volume, high-protein medical beverage solution will have great heat stability, it won’t gel over time, and it won’t compromise on taste.”

Low-volume, high protein medical beverages made with Lacprodan® DI-7325 can carry on-pack communication such as 100% of the protein from whey, UHT-stable and kosher and halal.