Planteneers has expanded its range of plant-based alternatives to fish and seafood, originally introduced in spring 2021.
At Plant Based World, which was held in New York in December, industry attendees reportedly showed particular interest in plant-based alternatives to fish and seafood. With its expanded range, the company aims to answer this rising demand.
Dr Dorotea Pein, Director Product Management at Planteneers, said: “The current demand confirms the importance of these plant-based products.”
Among the added products are plant-based calamari and shrimp. Both foods can be produced using the same system, with individual product variants made by adjusting the form and colour. For example, a colour mixture based on paprika extract gives the plant-based shrimps their typical light red shade.
Production is designed to be very straightforward. Product mass is made in a standard cutter as used in the meat industry. Ideally it should have a vacuum function to get a compact, homogeneous mass. This can then be formed into the desired shape with a standard moulding machine.
Like regular calamari and shrimp, the products can be used for cold foods like salads and antipasti or for hot dishes, deep-fried, pan-fried or grilled. They can also be prepared breaded or unbreaded. Since they are freeze-thaw-stable, they are also suitable for deep frozen foods.
These product concepts expand the company’s existing portfolio, which includes alternatives to fried fish and sushi-quality fillet, canned tuna and smoked variants such as smoked salmon.