News & Events
A Game-Changing Collaboration: ICL Food Specialties and Plantible Redefine Clean Label Binders for Plant-Based Meat & Seafood Applications
The plant-based market has surged over the past decade, with projections reaching an astounding USD 160 billion globally by 2030.1 However, when it comes to binding solutions, most plant-based formulations still rely on chemically modified additives like methylcellulose to provide structural stability and maintain product integrity. While somewhat effective, these traditional binding agents are highly processed and carry an unfavorable reputation among consumers who are looking for cleaner labels, shorter ingredient lists and more authentic texture profiles.
Therefore, the plant-based market is ready for a next-generation binding solution, one that resonates with environmentally conscious, health-savvy consumers and delivers a taste and texture experience that exceed consumers’ expectations.
ROVITARIS® Binding Solution powered by Rubi Protein™
Two years ago, ICL partnered with Plantible Foods, a vertically integrated biology platform that produces a functional RuBisCO protein derived from lemna, one of the most sustainable and nutrient-dense plants in the world. This collaboration resulted in the development of ROVITARIS® Binding Solution powered by Rubi Protein™, a one-of-a-kind ingredient solution that is a highly desirable replacement for methylcellulose in plant-based meat and seafood applications.
Rubi Protein™ is the world’s most nutritionally complete and abundant plant-based protein. It contains every essential amino acid necessary for human survival, and is a highly functional, sustainably sourced protein that enhances taste, texture, and nutrition in plant-based products:
1. Premium, plant-based nutritional profile: Rubi Protein™ offers an exceptional nutritional profile that rivals and surpasses the protein digestibility (measured from DIAAS) of gold standard animal proteins like casein.2,3,4
2. Superior functional properties: Rubi Protein™ is unique in its ability to solubilize and form self-supporting gels. It exhibits the highest gel hardness value among food proteins.
3. Clean label and low allergenicity: Rubi Protein™ is derived from lemna, a highly functional, sustainably sourced protein which is grown in Plantible’s low-impact, circular production system.
The ROVITARIS® Binding Solution powered by this powerful protein has superior nutritional and functional properties that will improve the taste and texture of plant-based meat and seafood applications.
Want to know more? Dive deep into our latest whitepaper and discover the science behind the limitless possibilities our revolutionary clean label binding solution can offer.
1. Emerging Trends in the Plant-Based Industry. Mintel Report (2023).
2. Grácio, M., Oliveira, S., Lima, A., & Ferreira, R. B. (2023). RuBisCO as a protein source for potential food applications: a review. Food Chemistry, 135993.
3. Mes, J. J., Esser, D., Oosterink, E., van den Dool, R. T., Engel, J., de Jong, G. A., … & van der Meer, I. M. (2022). A controlled human intervention trial to study protein quality by amino acid uptake kinetics with the novel Lemna protein concentrate as case study. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 73(2), 251-262.
4.FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (2013) Dietary protein quality evaluation in human nutrition: report of an FAO Expert Consultation. Food and nutrition paper; 92. FAO: Rome.