Arla Foods Ingredients launches new protein category

Launched today (Oct 8) at the new Arla Foods Ingredients Innovation Centre, Lacprodan® BLG-100 is a pure BLG ingredient with a unique nutritional profile. Produced using a patented new separation technology, it contains 45% more leucine – the main muscle-building amino acid – than commercially available whey protein isolates.[i]

The development of this new protein category presents a range of opportunities for medical nutrition and sports nutrition manufacturers:

Potency and palatability for medical nutrition

Consuming high-quality protein in sufficient amounts is a key nutritional need for patients and elderly people. The high leucine content of Lacprodan® BLG-100 means it can support muscle protein synthesis to minimise the loss of muscle mass and sustain physical mobility.[ii]

Additionally, it provides a more appealing taste than other commercially available proteins, which encourages compliance with nutritional regimes. It is also low in minerals, especially phosphorous, making it suitable for patients with kidney problems.

Lacprodan® BLG-100 enables very high protein concentrations (as high as 23%) in very small ready-to-drink serving sizes. Its medical nutrition applications include clear ready-to-drink formats and translucent high-protein shots.

A game-changer for sports nutrition

As a pure BLG, Lacprodan® BLG-100 delivers all the nutritional power active consumers need. In addition to its naturally high leucine content, it provides 26% more essential amino acids (EAAs) and 40% more branched-chain amino acids than commercially available whey protein. It also offers better taste than leucine as a single amino acid.

Easy to work with in sports nutrition applications, Lacprodan® BLG-100 is ideal for clear ready-to -drink beverages and powder shakes.

Troels Nørgaard Laursen, Director, Health & Performance Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, said:  “BLG as a pure ingredient is a whole new protein category, and one with enormous benefits. Setting new standards for purity, Lacprodan® BLG-100 has an unbeatable nutritional profile – it’s by far the most leucine-rich natural protein ingredient on the market. Not only that, but it also overcomes palatability and application issues, offering exciting opportunities in both the medical nutrition and sports nutrition sectors.”

Arla Foods Ingredients has applied for Lacprodan® BLG-100 to become authorised as a novel food in the EU.

Arla Foods Ingredients Innovation Centre in in Nr Vium in Denmark

Introducing the Arla Foods Ingredients Innovation Centre

The commercial production of Lacprodan® BLG-100 was made possible by Open Innovation –Arla Foods Ingredients’ model of partnership working. The concept will be at the heart of the new Arla Foods Ingredients Innovation Centre, which opens its doors today.

Dedicated to helping “discover and deliver all the wonders whey can bring to people’s lives,” the Centre will develop new ingredients for food, sports nutrition, infant nutrition and medical nutrition. It will also connect leading scientists, technicians and industry professionals from across the world, and provide materials for clinical trials.

Based in Nr Vium in Denmark and with a total size of around 9,000m², the Centre will be home to 75 scientists and technicians, who will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories and a pilot plant.

[i] Gorrisen et al, 2018

[ii] Phillips, 2017