Upcycled Foods, an innovation and ingredient platform for food manufacturers, has unveiled five commercial ingredient solutions – two of which were developed with Kerry and Puratos. As part of the company’s goal to drive upcycled food innovation, the new solutions can be formulated into foods and beverages to add flavor, improve texture and naturally fortify nutrition.

“We are launching a series of new ingredients to offer more choices and drive product innovation at scale,“ says Dan Kurzrock, co-founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods. “Our expanded ingredient portfolio combined with the category expertise of our Upcycled Food Lab is here to catalyze the industry.”

The use of sustainable ingredients is increasing in importance every year, he tells FoodIngredientsFirst. “More and more consumers are aware that their food and beverage choices affect the environment. And as a result, they are beginning to change their shopping habits. Incorporating upcycled ingredients into food applications allows manufacturers to tell an authentic sustainability story.”

Maximizing ingredient potential 
According to Kurzrock, the most important reasons for upcycling are to maximize the potential of every food source and the resources it takes to grow and/or produce it. 

“Simultaneously, we are reducing our need for virgin food sources,” he continues. “Our industry has a daunting challenge to feed 10 billion people by 2050. Upcycling is a critical strategy to help meet this challenge,” he states. 

Kurzrock sees three areas of opportunity that directly connect to trends the company is watching. “The first emphasizes the natural nutritional value of upcycled foods compared to conventional options. Secondly, sharing the measurable impact results of upcycling environmental claims, and thirdly, experimenting with a wider range of waste streams to accelerate the ‘what’s possible’ in upcycled innovation,” he explains. 

Commenting on the collaborations with industry players Kerry and Puratos, Kurzrock says both companies are “global powerhouses in their respective categories, working with many of the world’s largest food manufacturers.”

“With this, companies that can affect change at scale. Our strategy at Upcycled Foods is to make the biggest impact we can to fix our food system, so collaborating with these partners makes a lot of sense.”

What ingredients are used?
Most of the new ingredient solutions are made with ReGrained SuperGrain+, an Upcycled Certified ingredient, creating a food maker’s new products eligible for certification, which will strengthen their story and competitive difference.

Certification has increased consumer purchase intent by 54% and food companies must apply for it through the Upcycled Food Association (an independent non-profit trade association). 

The new ingredients are:

- SuperGrain+ Sourdough System, developed with Puratos

Sourdough elevates the flavor and performance of upcycled grains in both industrial and artisanal applications. From breads to buns to pizza crusts and more, SuperGrain+ Sourdough System brings clean, elevated nutrition, good flavor and real sustainability across the baked goods category, says the company. 

- Upcycled Protein Crisp, developed with Kerry

This extruded crisp is designed for nutrition and snack bar innovations. Each serving of these plant-based puffed cereal pieces boasts 40% protein, 16% fiber and 30% upcycled materials. From bars to bites to clusters and beyond, the possibilities are abundant.

- SuperGrain+ Multigrain Flakes, developed with California Cereal Products

These upcycled grain flakes go above and beyond conventional commodity cereals by bringing superior texture, flavor and appearance. Flakes contain 30% ReGrained SuperGrain+ and no added sugar. Plus, they deliver up to 3x the fiber of a conventional multigrain flake and an authentic sustainability story.

- Upcycled Arabica Coffee Leaf

A premium ingredient made from handpicked leaves of the arabica coffee plant, featuring light-diffused caffeine, antioxidants and polyphenols. The product is available wholesale as a loose-leaf tea or liquid extract. It is ideal for beverage applications like kombucha, craft beer and non-alcoholic refreshers or as an alternative to matcha in baked goods.

This upcycled food ingredient also helps create year-round jobs in the coffee off-season by generating a new source of stable income for smallholder farmers in Nicaragua.

- Upcycled Cacao Fruit Syrup

This syrup is produced from the cacao fruit pulp, which originates from Ecuador. Usually, the pulp is discarded after its seeds are extracted to make chocolate. 

Cacao fruit contains theobromine, a powerful antioxidant and a natural stimulant similar to caffeine but without the potential side effects. This product has a wide range of applications, from sour ales to sauces to marinades.