Protein-providing potatoes - AVEBE America Inc.'s Protastar potato ingredient

Prepared Foods, Oct, 1996 by Nancy McCue

Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are required for maintenance of normal human physiology and the synthesis of muscle. Anywhere from 18-20 amino acids are necessary for optimal health and performance.

However, "essential" amino acids must be ingested because the body can not synthesize them. Examples of these amino acids include isoleucine, leucine, valine, tryptophan, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, arginine, phenyldine, and histidine.

Protein can be found in a variety of foods, such as eggs, tofu, spinach, fish...and potatoes.

High-protein products, especially those high in amino acid content, are favored by weight lifters and other athletes seeking to build muscle. These athletes need extra protein to repair muscle damage from fiber disruption occurring after an intense workout.

In a recent study reported by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers placed 12 women (ages 66 to 79) on a carefully controlled diet that supplied either their full RDA for protein or half their RDA. After nine weeks, the women who ate less protein had significant losses in immune response, muscle strength, muscle mass, and lean body mass, reports Muscle Media 2000 (MM 2000) magazine.

This confirms the body's need for a healthy supply of protein in order to maintain good health. The body typically needs approximately 70 g of protein a day, according to MM 2000.

A NEW PROTEIN SOURCE

AVEBE America Inc., a Netherlands-based ingredient company, manufactures potato proteins for a variety of end-uses.

The protein is obtained during potato starch production.

As the company implemented an advanced water reclamation treatment process, it discovered an abundant source of protein. During this process, the protein-containing water is heated and the protein coagulates. Once in this insoluble form, it is separated out, milled, sieved, and dried into a powder. "It's never been isolated before," says Matthew Andrick, national sales manager with the company.

Due to this production process, the risk of bacteriological contamination is minimal.

The ingredient has already found a market in young animal starter diets. And, in the pet food industry, switching to a potato source of protein might sometimes be found to help with allergenicity issues.

The potato protein ingredient, named Protastar, has food-grade applications for institutional foods, health foods (such as weight-loss products), baby foods, sports drinks, and protein-based foods.

AVEBE is the largest producer of potato starch in the world, according to the supplier, and produces 40 to 50 thousand tons of potato protein annually. Apart from starch, starch derivatives, and protein, the company also brings to value the other components of the potato, such as fibers and potato juice.