DuPont releases new culture for plant-based fermented foods

Danish firm DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences has expanded its DuPont Danisco Holdbac line of protective cultures with the addition of Holdbac Ym Vege.

The company claims that its new ingredient has the potential to extend shelf-life of plant-based, fermented foods and beverages.

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences Global Sustainability lead Mikkel Thrane said: “We are thrilled to add Holdbac YM Vege to our range of plant-based and sustainable offerings.

“We look at our environmental footprint through the lens of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we are proud to say that this culture supports at least three, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Holdbac YM Vege is helping us facilitate the transition to a healthier and more environmentally friendly diet.”

The company added that its new ingredient has the potential to address the issue of food wastage.

According to DuPont estimates, if only 5% of the global yoghurt market is replaced with plant-based alternatives using its Danisco Vege and Holdbac YM Vege cultures, the carbon dioxide emission saving would be as high as three million tonnes of carbon emissions a year.

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences Cultures for plant-based fermented food and beverages global product manager Eve Martinet-Bareau said: “The industry has seen enormous growth for fermented plant-based products in recent years, driven by higher numbers of flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan consumers around the world.

“These shifts in diets are driven by a number of factors, including a search for improved health that comes with a plant-based diet, ethical choices toward foods with lower environmental impact and which are deemed better for animal welfare, and switching to dairy alternatives for lactose-intolerant consumers.”

Last month, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences expanded its enzyme range with the launch of DuPont Danisco POWERPasta. The enzymes range will help to maintain the quality of durum pasta, as well as authentic colour.