Pea Protein Flavor Modifying Ingredient for Sweetness Masking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The food industry faces challenges in providing natural flavor modifying ingredients that can improve the mouthfeel and sweetness of food products while masking off-notes, particularly with high-intensity sweeteners which often impart undesirable tastes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of pea protein using proteolytic enzymes and lactic acid bacteria to create a flavor modifying ingredient that modulates sweetness and mouthfeel, suitable for use in food products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high-intensity sweeteners are used to reduce caloric value, then sweetness is improved, but off-tastes (bitter, metallic, liquorice) are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecaloric valueVSAvoidoff-tastes
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A pea protein-derived ingredient is introduced as an intermediary substance between the high-intensity sweetener and the consumer's taste perception. This ingredient modulates the overall flavor profile by masking the bitter, metallic, and liquorice off-tastes generated by the sweetener, while preserving the desired sweetness and sugar-like mouthfeel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite sweetening system that combines high-intensity sweeteners with a naturally-derived pea protein ingredient. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both low caloric content and improved taste profile by leveraging the complementary properties of both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If high-intensity sweeteners are used to replace sugar, then caloric value is reduced, but mouthfeel and sweetness quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecaloric valueVSAvoidsweetness quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pea protein-derived ingredient acts as a quality-enhancing intermediary that bridges the gap between artificial sweeteners and natural sugar. It modifies the sensory perception to provide a smoother, more sugar-like sweetness and mouthfeel, thereby improving the overall sweetness quality while maintaining reduced caloric content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the sensory parameters of the sweetening system by introducing an ingredient that modifies taste perception, sweetness duration, and mouthfeel characteristics. This transforms the qualitative attributes of the sweetener system to better approximate natural sugar while preserving the quantitative benefit of reduced calories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If natural ingredients are used to modify flavor, then clean-label products are achieved, but the ability to mask off-notes may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclean-label productionVSAvoidoff-notes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the naturally-derived pea protein ingredient into a beneficial masking agent that specifically targets and neutralizes the off-tastes generated by high-intensity sweeteners. This approach maintains clean-label integrity while effectively addressing the off-note problem through a natural ingredient's flavor-modifying properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The resulting flavor modifying ingredient enhances sweetness characteristics to be more sugar-like, improves mouthfeel, and reduces off-notes in food products, enabling the creation of healthy, clean-label foods with improved taste.

Implementation Method 1

subjecting the pea protein to enzymatic hydrolysis using one or more proteolytic and/or carbohydrase enzymes to form a pea protein hydrolysate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

subjecting the pea protein hydrolysate to fermentation using one or more lactic acid bacteria selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, plantarum, Lactiplantibacillus Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium animalis lactis such as, for example, Bifidobacterium animalis lactis also known as BB-12® from Chr. Hansen or Bifidobacterium animalis lactis also known as Probiotic BifidoBHN019 or DR10 or B019, Streptococcus thermophilus and mixtures thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240277016A1Plant-based flavour modifying ingredient
Publication Date: 2024.08.22 GIVAUDAN SA

AI summary

A method for making a flavour modifying ingredient, the method comprising subjecting a pea protein to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation; flavour modifying ingredients obtainable by said method; flavour compositions and food products comprising said flavour modifying ingredient; uses of said flavour modifying ingredient.