ADM launches clean label protein for meat products
The protein, which is made by Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), a global ingredients specialist, was revealed to the press at a special conference held in the Netherlands last week (10 October).
Named Arcon FS, the protein is also suitable for use in frozen, pasteurised and canned goods, and the company said it can extend shelf-life or optimise meat products.
Speaking before the conference, technical manager for meat applications Roland Snel said: “Arcon FS has been developed to give meat products the particular characteristics demanded by consumers in the African to Middle Eastern regions. We believe we have created an economical, nutritious, functional ingredient for the meat industry, with good gelling and emulsification properties.”
According to ADM, its Arcon range helps to improve emulsified-meat product structure, mouth-feel and batch-to-batch consistency.
“Different soya proteins bring specific attributes to meat products and can aid water absorption and binding, as well as gelation, emulsification and cohesion,” Snel continued. “Arcon SL improves the texture of dried, fermented sausages without affecting the ripening or drying phases, while Arcon SM can be injected into whole birds or joints to make the meat more succulent and reduce the cost per kilogram of cooked rotisserie chickens.”
He explained that using soya in meat products was a cost-effective way of dealing with rising raw material prices, caused by high margins and poor weather conditions, affecting animal feed supplies.
Snel added that the soya concentrates could be used as the “sole source” of dietary protein “without supplementary amino acids”. He also said the soya protein’s nutritional profile was comparable in quality to sources of animal proteins, such as beef and milk, “providing a high level of nutrition”.
Meanwhile, he pointed out part of the industry’s continued trend towards mechanically deboned meat (MDM). “MDM is an integral ingredients in meat products and the rising costs are presenting problems for manufacturers,” he said.
“We have developed the Arcon range of soya protein systems to provide manufacturers with an economical means of extending their product range, while delivering products with the texture that is desired by today’s consumers. The ingredients are natural products without E-numbers, which also fits the current trend for clean labels.”
