Fazer Confectionery, a Finnish meals model, has launched a chocolate snack bar utilizing its novel ingredient, Solein. Photo voltaic Meals, a Finnish meals expertise firm, produces the ingredient.
The model develops it by way of a fermentation course of that makes use of air and electrical energy as its predominant sources. Photo voltaic Meals goals to deal with world meals availability challenges by producing protein from air, decreasing useful resource use and environmental influence.
Fazer’s Style the Future 40g chocolate snack bar with darkish chocolate coating and hazelnuts incorporates 7% Solein. By means of its fermentation course of, the model goals to offer shoppers with a extremely useful, nutritious and versatile ingredient that enriches the candy deal with’s flavours and makes the bar a supply of protein.
Bioprocesses produce protein ‘out of skinny air’
Solein originates from a pure, unmodified, single-cell organism. Somewhat than watering and fertilising the organism, Solein makes use of a fermentation course of that makes use of air and electrical energy as its major sources.
How do you ferment a brand new ingredient utilizing solely power and air?
1. Seize key components from air
Air incorporates carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen, and oxygen. These components are captured and fed right into a bioreactor.
2. Add water and vitamins
The bioreactor additionally incorporates water, mineral vitamins (like phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium), and hydrogen.
3. Use renewable power to separate water
By means of a course of referred to as electrolysis, renewable electrical energy (from photo voltaic or wind) is used to separate water (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen turns into the power supply for the microbes.
4. Feed the microbes
Specifically chosen microorganisms (like soil micro organism) “eat” the carbon dioxide and hydrogen, utilizing them to develop and multiply—similar to how yeast ferments sugars to make beer or bread.
5. Harvest the microbial biomass
Because the microbes develop, they create a protein-rich biomass. That is then dried right into a powder that is wealthy in protein, nutritional vitamins, and different vitamins.
With out there land sparse and requiring extra sources that put a pressure on the atmosphere, Photo voltaic Meals sought to search out another technique to domesticate its ingredient, which Fazer Confectionery now makes use of in its chocolate bars. Solein is, subsequently, grown with out agriculture. Because of this, Fazer Confectionery states it wants a small quantity of land, water and power in comparison with animal or plant manufacturing.
Fazer Confectionery has designed Solein to be a nutritionally wealthy ingredient providing style and visible profiles for varied purposes. Hailed as a various protein ingredient, Solein supplies iron and vitamin B12. “It’s unparalleled in its performance – it may be utilized in any meals, no matter weight loss plan,” says Anttila.
“Solein supplies superior diet with nice style, ticks off all main ‘free from’ claims, and is among the most sustainable proteins available in the market,” says Juan Manuel Benitez-Garcia, Chief Industrial Officer at Photo voltaic Meals. The model states it’s on observe to obtain the European Union’s novel meals approval for Solein in 2026.
Air’s influence on style and texture
Whereas its perceived advantages are rooted in sustainability, novel applied sciences, and assembly client calls for, confectionery buyers need a product that tastes good and has an interesting texture. “Product style and texture are key when creating scrumptious style experiences for shoppers,” Heli Anttila, VP of New Product Improvement at Fazer Confectionery, confirms.
Every uncooked materials has its function in Fazer Confectionery’s recipe, and the model places limitations on how a lot they will add to every of them to achieve a completed product with a beautiful style. Solein protein has been designed to have a light and nice style profile.
Marrying expertise with client suggestions
Fazer is the biggest shareholder and analysis and growth collaborator for Photo voltaic Meals. “We’re creating and testing our future merchandise beneath the Fazer Style the Future idea,” says Heli Anttila, VP of New Product Improvement at Fazer Confectionery. The model’s strategy includes creating merchandise, pilot promoting them to shoppers after which amassing suggestions to create their merchandise additional. “Collaboration with shoppers is essential to creating scrumptious options for shoppers’ wants and style preferences,” she notes.
A protein revolution in chocolate?
Including candy protein sources to formulations is a key manner manufacturers faucet into the useful confectionery development. A 2024 analysis examine by the Institute of Meals Technologists discovered that buyers’ perceptions of protein are based mostly on it offering naturalness, satiety and style.
Fazer Confectionery has noticed rising client demand for more healthy and extra nutritious meals choices. “Customers are more and more looking for merchandise that supply better dietary worth with out compromising on style,” says Anttila.
