Sanitarium Health Food Company has joined the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) consortium. It will be working with the University of New South Wales to improve the functional properties of plant-based protein products, starting with its Barista dairy-free milk range.
Sanitarium general manager - development and innovation Paul Ginn said its plant-based milk brand, The Alternative Dairy Co, produces its Barista range of almond, soy, and oat varieties for the food service industry.
“With the team at Future Food Systems we are investing in the development of a method to quantitatively measure the ‘stretchiness’ of the foam produced by our Barista milks and provide a method to assess the performance of different plant-based milks.”
Future Food Systems CRC CEO David Eyre said the partnership was a “natural fit”.
“There is growing demand for plant-based protein products, and companies like Sanitarium are leading the way. The CRC model enables industry partners to cost-effectively access the expertise and laboratories of our university partners – in this case, the world-class team and facilities at UNSW,” Eyre said.
The project is led by the CRC’s research and commercialisation director Cordelia Selomulya, a Professor in UNSW Sydney’s School of Chemical Engineering and an expert in the field of advanced dairy formulations.
Selomulya said the project team will evaluate key functional attributes of the oat and almond Barista alt milks and then “tweak” existing formulations.
“We are addressing very specific technical challenges aimed at optimising the creaminess, ‘silkiness’ and foaming performance of these products for The Alternative Dairy Co and its customers,” Selomulya said.
The difficulties come from the fact the products are low in fats and free from additives such as synthetic stabilisers and emulsifiers.
“We have to understand how these ingredients in the Barista products interact with coffee in order to optimise their properties, so they behave more like conventional dairy products,” she said.
Ginn said the company expects the initial project will lead to further collaborations across more of its flagship brands.
The Alternative Dairy Co Barista brand saw sales triple in the first quarter of FY21 compared to the last quarter of FY20. The company said it was fuelled by a consumer shift towards locally made products and plant milks by coffee drinkers.
Sanitarium general manager - sales Steve Beams said “People have long been attracted to the health benefits of plant milks, but a growing number are now seeking food and drinks with stronger sustainability credentials.
“The Alternative Dairy Co source Australian almonds from the Murray-Darling region. Our supplier Select Harvests is committed to sustainable agriculture and has implemented some innovative solutions at their orchards to minimise the use of water and energy and support bee health. All our oats are locally grown too.”
