Healy Group launches textured pea protein for plant-based applications

03 Dec 2019 --- Irish-based functional ingredient supplier Healy Group has launched PrimaTex, a textured pea protein for plant-based food applications. The launch of PrimaTex, which is in partnership with British pea ingredient suppliers, Novo Farina, contains UK-grown and milled pea flour for reduced-carbon footprint. The launch comes at a time where there is a heightened pressure on the industry to provide sustainable and nutritious food and as a result, plant proteins are growing in popularity.

“PrimaTex’s pea flour is grown in the UK and the product is manufactured in Northern Ireland, reducing its carbon footprint in line with our wider sustainability commitments,” Hannah Rackham, Group Marketing Director at Healy Group, explains to FoodIngredientsFirst. 

Healy Group is a member of Origin Green, a Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board)-led program that aims to improve sustainability across the entire food chain in Ireland. “We understand that consumers are becoming more conscious of the ethical and environmental ramifications of their food and drink, and we are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of our business activities,” Rackham notes.

As plant-based proteins remain in the spotlight, textured pea proteins, such as PrimaTex, present a good opportunity to increase label appeal with natural and recognizable ingredients. PrimaTex is wholly allergen-free, enhancing suitability for those on specialist diets where soya or wheat may not be appropriate. “Peas are also a familiar vegetable to consumers,” Rackham adds. 

PrimaTex has been developed to replicate the structure and appearance of formed meat, retaining a fibrous texture and bite, whether whole or minced. Preliminary trials have shown it to have a clean flavor profile, enhancing the ability to impart more subtle flavors without the need for additional masking, Healy Group notes. 

In addition, Novo Farina uses only specially-selected seed varieties for their pea flour to attain a highly taste-neutral product. “This provides PrimaTex with a cleaner taste profile, offering our customers greater flexibility in delicately-flavored applications,” Rackham continues. 

“Novo Farina is a UK-based business with a great commitment to sustainability. Our partnership allows us to reduce the environmental impact of our textured pea proteins and have greater control over the entire supply chain,” says Gareth Healy, Group Sales Director at Healy Group.

“Novo Farina is a strategic supply partner for Healy Group. Not only do they supply the pea flour used in PrimaTex, but we have also worked in close collaboration with them in developing PrimaTex, drawing upon their extensive expertise on all things pea,” Healy tells FoodIngredientsFirst. 

PrimaTex has over 65 percent protein content and has been successfully applied to sausages and burgers, as well as whole chunks in ready meal applications.

The product can be used to replace meat to give texture in products such as reformed burgers, meatballs, sausages and so on. “We are also currently undertaking trials of chicken-style formulations, where PrimaTex is giving us some promising preliminary results. We are continually looking at the vegan market as a strategic growth area and PrimaTex offers us the flexibility across many applications,” explains Paul Sheldrake, Group Applications & Technical Director at Healy Group. 

The launch is the latest addition to the new Prima range produced by the Healy Group, which includes micronized ingredients PrimaPro and PrimaFi. 

“PrimaTex offers a robust solution to a wide array of applications,” Healy continues. “We recognize that we will not be able to match everyone’s expectations initially, particularly as we currently only have one size particle. We are looking to remedy this with work on a smaller particle to allow for use without having to mince once hydrated.” 

“We are delighted to add to our growing Prima range with this exciting new textured vegetable protein. We are continually growing this range and will have more launches soon, with a continuing theme of vegan and allergen-free,” Healy explains. 

He further highlights that the company will be launching a new Prima product in Q1 of 2020 specific to the confectionery market. Healy also adds that “this will be based on cocoa.”

By Elizabeth Green