Salt of the Earth has introduced a natural formulation for plant-based snacks designed to lower sodium requirements.
The company says it conducted virtual research of social media, culinary blogs, and retailers, finding flexitarian and vegan Millennials are increasingly seeking plant-based snacks that have high protein content, vitamins, and minerals. After analysing the properties of different legumes, the company focused on lentils.
“We developed an application for lentil snack bites that can be chilled, frozen, or dried,” said Rakefet Rosenblatt, Food Technologist for Salt of the Earth. “Lentils have lots of protein and a high overall nutritional value, plus they blend well with other vegetables. We noticed that plant-based products are getting increasing attention on the market, yet most of the snacks are from broccoli, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes, which lack the same level of nutritional value.”
“Parents with busy lifestyles are looking for ready-to eat nutritious treats that can be part of a meal or an on-the-go snack for the whole family,” said Tali Feingold, Business Unit Director of Salt of the Earth.
“This Mediterranean Umami Bold formulation will allow food companies to easily overcome lentils’ natural blandness and provide a savoury treat,” said Rosenblatt. Manufacturers can add Mediterranean Umami Bold to the wet mixture as part of the other ingredients. The ingredient dissolves and boosts flavours, while lowering sodium levels by a third, the company claims.
Mediterranean Umami Bold is a clean-label, plant-based solution for flavour enhancement and sodium reduction. It can also be used to reduce the amounts of certain expensive ingredients, such as flavourings and spice blends.