Brewing up a superb protein

While fermentation has been around for centuries, modern science has discovered a way to culture specific microbes to produce new ingredients that are beneficial to human health. This has created a growing category of fermentation-enabled alternative proteins, fuelled by the demand for sustainable, (major) allergen-free, plant-based foods.

A new protein

Just as beer is made with yeast (a microbe) and grains through anaerobic (without oxygen) fermentation, we’ve used a similar process to produce the world’s first anaerobically cultured protein.

Superbrewed Cultured Postbiotic Protein is ‘brewed’ from starch, using a proprietary process to harness the power of a microbe found in nature that Superbrewed’s scientists identified as a ‘protein specialist’, meaning it is highly efficient at converting plant fibres into protein.

The nutrition that fuels us doesn’t just come from the food we eat, but also the food that’s converted by our gut microbiome into the nutrition we absorb. To find our protein specialist we looked at the microbiomes of some of nature’s powerful herbivores – for example, gorillas, elephants, horses and cows – who are extremely efficient at converting the plants they eat into protein to build muscle. In this process, Superbrewed Food identified the ‘middleman’ – a specific microflora that effectively converts plant starches into proteins.

Using these bacteria, we discovered a completely new type of protein that is not an animal protein and performs better than whey, pea or soy protein nutritionally and in some functional uses.

Moreover, because Superbrewed is cultured from microflora, it actually provides postbiotic benefits, similar to how yoghurt cultures provide probiotic benefits. The key difference is that our coproduct is butyrate, which is a postbiotic. When bacteria in our gut (probiotics) metabolise the starches we eat (prebiotics), that generates short-chain fatty acids (postbiotics). Butyrate is a potent postbiotic that has important gut-healing properties, reducing inflammation and potentially also improving metabolism.

Even though it is not a genetically modified ingredient, Superbrewed Food Cultured Postbiotic Protein has gone through rigorous regulatory testing, particularly focused on food allergens.

The resulting data showed no adverse effects and a low risk of major food allergen cross-contamination.

The perks of anaerobic fermentation

The beauty of anaerobic fermentation is the speed with which it enabled us to move from lab to scale.

Upon further investigation, the process is strikingly similar to that of beer brewing. We combine our proprietary microflora with starch, plus two salts, at which point it is then anaerobically fermented for less than a day. After fermentation, it is simply washed and dried, leaving a whole food protein powder that is minimally processed to preserve the extra nutrition, beyond protein.

SUPERBREWED FOOD

Our ingredient delivers 80 percent protein by weight and contains naturally superior levels of essential vitamins and minerals, including a full day’s supply of B-12, along with iron, phosphorus, magnesium and folate. In terms of protein quality, it is complete in amino acids for adults, has all nine essential amino acids, including 20 percent higher branched-chain amino acid content than plant-based proteins, which helps stimulate muscle protein synthesis and decrease soreness after a workout.

Compared with the animal proteins it can replace, our postbiotic protein has a 75 percent lower carbon footprint and uses 60 percent less water. Our production process is also very efficient, achieving a near 50 percent weight conversion of sugars to products, which is extremely high for the industry.

Cultured postbiotic protein is remarkably versatile and can be used across everyday food applications. It has a neutral taste with a natural white colour, which reduces the need for masking or colouring. It also has excellent pH and temperature stability, so it does not clump in hot foods or beverages, or when cooking. Additionally, it can serve as an emulsifier, so it lends a creamy and smooth texture to foods and has low water activity that extends shelf-life stability. This makes it an excellent candidate for an alternative dairy ingredient that also provides functional benefits in foaming, emulsification, colour, texture and inclusion levels.

 Proprietary information of Superbrewed Food Inc.

Due to the scalability and stable supply of our cultured protein, it is also affordable, particularly compared with the cost of other protein ingredients.
Several companies are already working with Superbrewed Cultured Postbiotic Protein in their innovation pipelines, in categories ranging from alternative dairy to baked goods.

Introducing Superb Fuel

The first consumer product made with our prized postbiotic protein is Superb Fuel for Performance, a ready-to-drink protein shake that will be available in late 2022. An eight-ounce bottle contains 33 grams of protein in only 170 calories and naturally delivers (without fortification) an excellent source of vitamins B6 and B12, iron and riboflavin, along with other minerals such as selenium and manganese.

What makes Superb Fuel stand out is that it provides the highest level of protein per ounce without being thick or chalky tasting. Furthermore, it is not whey-, soy- or pea protein-based, so it appeals to all consumers looking to fortify their diet with protein while having a clean label. 

References 

1. https://gfi.org/fermentation/