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Identifying opportunities that exist in
alternative protein sources
Luca Bucchini, MPH, PhD
Information Classification: General
Main topics
• Context: the context is increasingly supportive of alternative protein
sources
• Nutritional scores: looking at nutritional quality helps select strong
opportunities – but it may not be the fully story
• Compliance: understanding compliance issues may save headaches
• Communication: you cannot say everything you would wish to say
about your protein
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THE CONTEXT
The context is evolving in a direction that supports alternative protein sources
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Society is supportive of alternative protein sources
Source: A. Kohl (WWF), Food, consumer trends and the environment. presentation. November
2018 (including figure above)
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Source: A. Kohl (WWF), Food, consumer trends and the environment.
presentation. November 2018 (including figure above)
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More alternative protein sources: why?
• Broader trends include:
– growth of vegetarianism and
veganism;
– perceived issues with GM status
of soy;
– concerns on the environmental
impact & sustainability of animal
protein;
– aim to reduce waste (e.g.. protein
fraction of some crops considered
waste).
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The EU is looking at alternative protein sources
• Key points
– Increase relative competitiveness versus
other crops and non-EU plant proteins
– Supply chain development and support
for producer organisations
– Recognition of legume’s contribution to
environmental and climate targets
– Noting evolving consumer behaviour and
preference
– Aim to influence other policies and
debates in society (deforestation, UN SDGs,
Renewable Energy Directive, European
Bioeconomy Strategy)
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EU Member States are also working on their own
projects
• The Netherlands aims for:
– A healthy balance between plant protein (60%) and
animal protein (40%) in 2050.
• Support for sustainable alternatives such as:
– Micro algae, seaweed, duckweed (water lenses),
insects, grass, beet leaves, potato
• Support for new processing technology;
– fermentation of proteins, using fungi
Source: Y. Koorengevel (Dutch Ministry of Agriculture), EU protein plan: Dutch
perspective on trends, developments and ambition. Presentation. July 2018
(including figure on side)
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What opportunities does this create for me?
1. More availability of sources for the industry, from the EU (see
origin debate), potentially certified for organic content and overall
better prices.
2. Policy and society will reinforce consumer awareness and
interest in a positive feedback loop.
3. More voluntary programs and certification schemes.
4. Links with universities or other organisations for conducting
research with public/private funds.
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NUTRITIONAL QUALITY
Looking at nutritional quality helps select strong opportunities
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Proteins differ in many ways and humans have
specific requirements
1. Proteins have different amino
acid composition and structure.
2. Not all proteins are equally
digestible.
3. Humans need proteins both in
terms of total amounts
(measured with nitrogen) and
specific amino acids.
4. Humans cannot produce all amino
acids. Some are essential.
Vitafoods 2019
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How is the nutritional quality of protein measured?
• Older methods
– PER – based on animal data
– Biological value (BV) – based on nitrogen absorption
• Newer methods
– PDCAAS – fecal digestibility and human requirements of a 2- to 5-year-old
child (considered the most nutritionally demanding age group)
– DIAAS – ileal digestibility, not truncated, and human requirements. Current
FAO/WHO recommendation.
• Results
– broad variation among sources. Animal protein such as whey, milk, meat
tend to perform better with newer methods because plant proteins have
limiting amino acids:
– Data often not available on specific sources.
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Different sources have very different scores
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
PD
CA
AS
(vari
ou
s so
urc
es)
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Diet versus individual product and fortification
• When considered in the context of the diet,
individual protein sources are complementary
(EFSA, 2012) making individual scores less
important.
• However, when discussing individual protein
products for supplementation, consumers may
reasonably expect a nutritionally complete
source of protein.
• Fortification with individual amino acids is an
option, and is mandatory for products with meal
replacement claims to meet “chemical index”
(Reg. (EC) 1414/2016).
NU
TR
ITO
NA
LLY
INC
OM
PLE
TE
?
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2557
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What opportunities does this create for me?
• Understanding nutrition in relation to protein
sources helps to make selection.
• Nutritional quality may not be driver in the
marketplace for some opportunities which may
be based on ethics.
• Complementing different proteins and free
amino acids may improve a product’s appeal.
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REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Understanding compliance issues may save headaches
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Do not underestimate food safety
requirements
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Do not underestimate safety requirements
Vitafoods 2019
1. Proteins must meet
regulatory requirements.
2. There are several (micro
criteria, chemical
contaminants, pesticides
(concentration), extraction
solvents, not from waste, etc).
3. Microbiology is emerging as a
key concern.
4. Particular requirements for
FMSP and foods targeting
infants, or FMSP for young
children
Selected
Requirement
Legal
provisions
Notes
Micro criteria Reg. (EC) No
2073/2005 and
HACCP
Despite low aW, protein powders may
harbour pathogens
Chemical
contaminants
Reg. (EC) No
1881/2006 and
HACCP
Concentration may occur. Process
contaminants to be considered
Pesticides Reg. (EC) No
396/2005
Concentration may occur.
Extraction
solvents
Dir. 2009/32/EC
GM status Reg. (EC)
1829/2003
Food
allergens
Reg. (EU) No
1169/2011
Includes all sources
Processing
aids
Reg. (EC) No
178/2002
Despite absence of specific rules,
compliance with safety rules required
Food hygiene Reg. (EC) No
852/2004
Production establishments must be
registered if in EU; in any case comply
with EU food hygiene rules
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Proteins must not be novel or be authorised as such
1. Novel sources of proteins require
assessment (rapeseed protein), even if from
sources that are otherwise used as food
(e.g., rapeseed oil)
2. This is due to the definition of novel food
in the regulation – it must be extracted
proteins that have been consumed, as a
rule, and not just the overall food
3. Data requirements may be less stringent
than for other Novel Foods, but
authorisation may be limited in terms of the
amounts and there are costs and time issues
4. Data protection, coupled with patents,
may be a boon
Information Classification: General
What opportunities does this create for me?
1. Use of compliant proteins (if supplier has taken care of
all the issues) may avoid difficulties and delays
2. Diligence on safety may avoid costly recalls and
reputational damage
3. Novel food authorisations give legal certainty, and data
protection may provide competitive advantage
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COMMUNICATION
You cannot say everything you would wish to say about your protein
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Don’t bet on new health claims
• Based on consensus science as
viewed by EFSA, it is currently not
easy to foresee new health claims
for specific protein sources.
• EFSA has not seen benefits on top
of those assessed for the claim of
generic protein and muscle
function, and when setting the
DRV.
RG EGGSEED
PROTEINTM
INCREASES
MUSCLE
STRENGHT*
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Don’t expect too much from nutrition claims (in the
safe zone)
• Source of protein and high in protein
easy to make for many foods – may be
trivial
• Comparative claims on protein
sources may be difficult to substantiate
• Specifically, claims on PD-CAAS or
DIAAS may be interpreted as
comparative nutrition or health claims
that are not authorised
• Bioavailability claims (absolute, timing
of absorption) generally not considered
health claims but MS level
interpretation may vary
RG EGGSEED
PROTEINTM HAS
HIGHEST PD-CAAS
OF PLANT PROTEINS
?
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Go, with care, with ethical claims
• Not well regulated (except
organic), reliance on
certification or self-assessment
• Established schemes to be
preferred.
• Certification bodies have
accepted private standards in
some MS sometimes with
limited regulatory analysis.
RG EGGSEED
PROTEINTM HAS
BEEN CERTIFIED FOR
SUSTAINABILITY BY
WWX
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Use social media with nous
• Remember if it is increasingly regulated as advertising – not a
free for all
• Be mindful of guidelines and case-law at national level
Information Classification: General
Summary
1. The general context is supportive for alternative sources
of proteins,
2. Nutritional quality needs to be understood.
3. Regulatory compliance of alternative plant and
animal protein sources is not a given, but must be
assessed on a case-by-case basis with adequate data
4. Designing compliant communication for
alternative protein sources is a challenge, and solutions are
not necessarily to be found in the health claim space