Ireland-based ingredient supplier Healy Group has launched two new, shorter varieties of its PrimaTex textured pea protein. To meet the increasing demand for application flexibility, the UK-manufactured textured pea proteins are roughly half the size of other market variants.

Manufactured in the UK using UK-grown pea flour, PrimaTex is a sustainable, allergen-free alternative protein with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. 

Pea protein thrives
“We believe that pea protein is enormously versatile, and our technical team has demonstrated this in many applications. These include traditional burgers and sausages, but also in ambient cooking kits, savory dumplings and stir-fries amongst others,” Hannah Rackham, group marketing director at Healy, tells FoodIngredientsFirst. 

Pea is not recognized as an allergen, so it offers a great protein alternative for those who can’t tolerate wheat or soy, notes Rackham. 

“Our PrimaTex also has a high protein content over 65 percent, and pea protein is recognized as having a higher Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) compared to other plant proteins,” she explains. 

“PrimaTex is manufactured using a whole pea flour and a pea protein isolate,” explains Paul Sheldrake, group application and technical director. 

“The byproducts from these materials are pea fibers and pea starches that are used to great effect in other applications within the food industry. Further to peas, we are actively looking at other allergen-free plant-based proteins that can be used to add extra functionality to the products that we have already developed and offer new texturizing opportunities to add to our PrimaTex range in 2021,” he comments. 

In addition, peas are widely grown in Europe and the UK, wher the company’s pea flour comes from, which means Healy Group is not reliant on sources further afield for materials. 

“Being UK-manufactured, it’s important for us to try and maintain a lower carbon footprint,” Rackham adds. 

She further flags “a lot of product innovation in the UK and Ireland in recent months,” As a result, the company has seen a marked increase in requests for product development samples. 

“The market data indicates that some consumer groups are exploring more plant-based options across more diverse categories, and we are excited to see how manufacturers respond to this demand,” she notes. 

Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the usual outlets for plant-based foods have been curtailed, and Rackham notes a “big increase in demand for plant-based foods” and expects to see that growth in demand continue.

Technical attributes
Textured pea protein is sometimes found to have a mild vegetal taste, something we have worked hard to avoid with PrimaTex by carefully selecting the raw materials, according to Healy Group. 

PrimaTex has been specifically developed to replicate formed meats structure and appearance, retaining a fibrous texture and bite, whether whole or minced.

Rackham says pea protein can also sometimes be quite soft, but we have found that the smaller piece sizes help overcome this – they do not break down as much when hydrated and retain a firmer, tighter structure.

Having size options allows manufacturers more significant control over their final product’s desired texture and functionality without the need for additional processing. 

“We’ve been working on the shorter versions since the launch of PrimaTex Original last December. Some of our customers liked PrimaTex’s neutral taste and texture but found the piece size too large for certain applications,” adds Rackham. 

Trials have shown PrimaTex variants to have a clean flavor profile, enhancing the ability to impart more subtle flavors without the need for additional masking. 

There are now three sizes available in the PrimaTex range; PrimaTex Original 2070 (approx. 20 mm pieces), PrimaTex Short 1070 (approx. 10 mm pieces) and PrimaTex Short 0570 (approx. 5 mm pieces). 

Trials for even shorter textured pea proteins and those using new protein sources are underway, with announcements expected in early 2021.