The Solae Company: The Future Of Soy & Health

In April 2003 a joint venture was formed between DuPont’s food product area (DuPont Protein Technologies), and Bunge Limited, officially establishing The Solae Company, St. Louis, MO, as a formidable player on the nutraceuticals scene. Leveraging the expertise of DuPont and Bunge gave Solae the ability to offer a wide range of options within the soy segment. Given the tremendous uptake of soy products in the mainstream, Solae is poised to deliver great tasting products, easy-to-understand communications surrounding the benefits of soy and solid research. In fact, Solae’s soy ingredients have been used in more than 80% of all clinical research on soy protein.

So what was the impetus be­hind this joint venture? According to Kip Underwood, global platform leader for the company, creating healthier food options and changing consumers’ lifestyles for the better were two main reasons. “The Solae Company believes that the health benefits derived from soy protein will play a significant role in improving the quality of life of many consumers around the world,” he said. “As a leader in science and innovation, The Solae Company is committed to the research and application of the health benefits of soy protein. Building off of more than 30 years of experience, The Solae Company’s expertise in technology, research and marketing helps food companies capitalize on the increased consumer demand for great tasting, better-for-you foods and beverages.”

Its latest research endeavor revolves around the health benefits of soy in relation to cancer. In fact, the company re­cently filed for a soy protein and cancer risk reduction claim with FDA to help further elevate consumer awareness of the healthfulness of soy protein-based foods. The claim relates to three types of cancer in particular—prostate, breast and colon. Currently, FDA has accepted the petition for review and Solae looks forward to its evaluation. “We continue to be involved and supportive of a strong pipeline of nutrition research, which we anticipate will lead to discoveries of other health benefits associated with the soy-based foods,” said Mr. Underwood. “As a technology leader, The Solae Company also continues to invest heavily in new technologies that will expand the range of applications in which soy protein can be used and advance the flavor profiles of such products.”

The company has also been busy carving out a niche for itself in the low-carb market. “The Solae Company offers the newest technologies and capabilities aimed at helping food companies create great-tasting, better-for-you products for carb-conscious consumers,” said Mr. Underwood. At the IFT Show in July, the company exhibited several prototypes exemplifying its capabilities in this area. These included soy nuggets with zero “net carbs,” which will allow for the development of products with significantly reduced carbohydrates. Solae also highlighted its new soy protein technologies, which will help nutrition bar manufacturers maintain first-day freshness during the shelf life of their bars. The company also touted its recently installed pilot plant scale bar line at its St. Louis Extrusion Center. Solae will use the new bar line to test the performance of its soy protein and fiber ingredients, and enhance its development of new ingredient innovations specifically de­signed for bar applications. Food processors will also be allowed to test and validate formulas, test formula variables, set process parameters and generally accelerate product development work at the St. Louis Extrusion Center.

For the future, Mr. Underwood said consumers are increasingly considering nutrition and health when making food choices. To help customers un­derstand these market dynamics, The Solae Company provides insights about soyfoods and beverages and the importance of ingredient branding. It is the company’s goal to help its customers develop healthy, innovative food and beverage products for consumers. As a result, he said the combination of market expertise, nutrition science and formulation puts The Solae Company in an ideal position to meet the future needs of the nutraceuticals market.—R.M.W.

The Solae Company
P.O. Box 88940
St. Louis, MO 63188
Telephone: 314-982-3604
Fax: 314-982-3075
Website: www.solae.com