Along with other Australian food manufacturers and businesses, Inline NutraLabs has seen an increase in demand for plant-based products over the last few years and have expanded their offerings to accommodate this shift. This is great news for Australian manufacturers and economy as many popular plant-based products were manufactured overseas.
Reasons like climate change, animal welfare and health have motivated consumers to consume less animal products. Rather than going vegan, people are choosing to adopt the “flexitarian diet”. This involves reducing the amount of animal products, but not eliminating them from their diet all together. For example, one may choose to eat plant-based majority of the time but still have the flexibility to eat meat and animal products on the weekends or when dining out.
Our health and environmentally conscious consumers have more options than ever before. Innovation and technology have allowed us to create more appealing and satisfying options for those looking to reduce their meat intake. Particularly in the protein powder space, we have seen an improvement in quality of plant proteins. Plant proteins are notorious for their unpleasant mouthfeel and flavour. Thanks to new and improved processing techniques and flavours developed for masking, we can create delicious high protein, plant-based products that are far more palatable than before.
Achieving the daily recommendation for protein intake can be difficult on a plant-based diet, particularly for those who have just started to reduce meat and animal products. Consuming a high-quality protein powder in conjunction with whole food sources of protein can assist with increasing protein intake. As sources of plant protein are generally low in one or more essential amino acids, it is common to find a blend of plant protein powders in a finished product.
In 2019, Inline NutraLabs saw more protein powders launched into the market with most using soy, pea, rice and hemp protein. In 2020, we’re expecting to see more protein powders incorporating protein from legumes, seeds and nuts. Currently they are quite expensive compared to soy, pea and rice. However, the price of hemp protein has decreased since it was legalised for us in food products and with increased demand and improved processing, it’s likely that these new varieties will become more affordable over time as well.
The bottom line is plant-based eating is here to stay. Whether you’re on board or not, take the opportunity to try new foods, get creative and improve your diet by incorporating more plant-based foods!
Interested in selling your own plant-based protein powder? With over 27 years of experience in developing nutritional supplements, Inline NutraLabs can create custom powders blends to suit your brand’s needs. Contact us today to discuss further.