Nutrient-Dense Structured Protein Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vegetarians and vegans face nutritional deficiencies due to limited availability of essential nutrients like vitamins B-12 and D, calcium, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids in plant-based diets, and there is a lack of nutrient-dense center-plate food items that provide supplemental nutrition.
Innovation Solution
Development of nutrient-dense meat structured protein products with at least 30% water and 5% non-animal protein, combined with essential nutrients such as iron, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, antioxidants, and vitamin B-12, produced through processes involving protein denaturation and alignment, and post-processing steps to enhance nutritional content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vegetarians and vegans consume plant-based diets, then they obtain dietary fiber, folic acid, vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, and phytochemicals, but they face nutritional deficiencies in vitamins B-12 and D, calcium, zinc, iron, and long-chain n-3 fatty acids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines non-animal protein material with essential nutrients (vitamins B-12 and D, calcium, zinc, iron, and long-chain n-3 fatty acids) that are typically deficient in plant-based diets. This merging creates a center-plate food item that provides both regular protein and supplemental nutrients in a single product, resolving the contradiction between obtaining plant-based nutrients and avoiding nutritional deficiencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite food product that integrates plant-based protein material with fortified essential nutrients. This composite structure allows the product to simultaneously provide the benefits of plant-based diets (fiber, phytochemicals) while compensating for their nutritional gaps through added vitamins and minerals.
2Quantity of substance
If vegetarians and vegans consume fortified protein-rich non-animal derived foods, snack bars, drink mixes, and concentrated supplements, then they obtain supplemental nutrition, but these items are only eaten between and in addition to regular meals, not as center-plate food items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a meat structured protein product that serves multiple functions: it provides regular protein intake, delivers supplemental essential nutrients, and functions as a complete center-plate food item. This universal product replaces the need for separate protein sources and nutrient supplements, making supplemental nutrition accessible as a main meal rather than just between meals.
3Shape
If meat structured protein products are produced through protein denaturation and alignment processes, then they achieve texture and structure similar to animal meat, but the production process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes in the form of controlled heating and shearing processes to denature and align proteins in non-animal protein material. By adjusting temperature, pressure, and mechanical stress parameters, the product achieves meat-like fibrous structure without requiring overly complex production equipment or multi-step processes.
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 products offer a high-protein, nutrient-dense alternative to animal meat, addressing nutritional gaps in plant-based diets while maintaining texture and structure similar to animal meat, providing enhanced nutritional benefits and mouthfeel.
Implementation Method 1
shearing and heating the dough so as to denature the proteins in the protein material and to produce protein fibers that are substantially aligned in a fibrous structure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are nutrient-dense meat structured protein products providing complete sources of protein and essential nutrients. Also provided are methods and processes for producing such nutrient-dense meat structured protein products. Also provided are nutrient-dense condiments that can be packaged with meat structured protein products or nutrient-dense meat structured protein products.