Oobli, a US startup that makes sweet proteins by precision fermentation, has co-developed a sugar replacement system for chocolate with the Dutch firm Cosun Ingredients, Green Queen reports. The system pairs Oobli's proteins with Cosun's Frutalose chicory root fibre.
Oobli inserts the DNA sequence of a sweet protein into the yeast Komagataella phaffii, which is fed sugars and a nutrient broth in fermentation tanks; the proteins are then filtered out and purified. Its proteins are inspired by fruits grown in Africa, including oubli, katemfe and serendipity berries and miracle fruit. Its brazzein is up to 1,000 times sweeter than sucrose and its monellin sweeter still; the company says they are digested as proteins, with fewer calories and no impact on blood glucose.
Chocolate is one of the hardest products to take sugar out of, Oobli says, because sugar gives it bulk, mouthfeel and crystal structure as well as sweetness. Most sugar-free chocolate relies on sugar alcohols, rare sugars or high-intensity sweeteners. The chicory fibre is meant to supply the texture, flow and crystallisation that sugar normally provides, so makers can produce zero-sugar, fibre-rich chocolate. Ken Horn, president of Cosun Ingredients' North American division, said the partners plan similar solutions for ice cream and baked goods.
Oobli has also opened its monellin, made from serendipity berry proteins and until now available only to selected partners, to brands of all sizes; it is cleared for sale as a sweetener and natural flavour in the US. Blending sweet proteins can raise sweetness intensity by up to 30% compared with using one alone, the company says. Its Oobli Inside programme now offers product development help and an on-pack badge to brands reformulating with sweet proteins.
The startup has raised nearly $50m, sells its own chocolates and works with manufacturers including Ingredion and Grupo Bimbo. Green Queen cites figures showing that Americans eat 17 teaspoons of sugar a day and that 42% of them are obese. "Sweet proteins are an idea whose time is now," said Oobli chief executive Ali Wing. The report is by Anay Mridul.
Photo: Cyriac Gbogou / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Green Queen
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