CHICAGO, July 15, 2013 — MGP Ingredients, a leading supplier of specialty wheat proteins and starches, launched a new, lightly hydrolyzed wheat protein, Optein™, to function as an exercise recovery and potential ergogenic aid at IFT13. Optein can be used as an ingredient in a number of food and beverage applications for the consumer packaged goods industry to support muscle recovery, and help reduce soreness.
Recommended Applications
- Nutritional and protein drink powder mixes
- Sports beverages
- Smoothies
- Protein, energy and meal replacement bars
- Vegetarian and vegan dishes
Features and Benefits
- Increases protein
- Delivers higher glutamine content than whey and soy
- Easily soluble in water
- Has neutral pH
- Possesses non-bitter flavor profile
- Provides functional benefits in finished products
- Aids in muscle recovery
“There is a growing demand for exercise and ergogenic recovery aids,” said Mike Lasater, vice president of sales and marketing at MGP. “Optein is an ideal choice for food manufacturers who are looking for a plant-based protein alternative that provides high glutamine content not obtainable from whey or soy.
“The introduction of Optein at IFT13 demonstrates MGP’s commitment to innovating ingredients for the health and wellness segment. It is important to expand upon the company’s family of high-quality ingredients that deliver nutritional benefits while simultaneously enhancing the taste and textural qualities of foods and beverages,” concluded Lasater.
About MGP Ingredients (www.mgpingredients.com/):
MGP processes grain-based starches and proteins into nutritional and highly functional ingredients for the branded consumer packaged goods industry. The company is also a leading supplier of premium spirits, offering flavor innovations and custom distillery blends to the beverage alcohol industry, as well as high quality food grade industrial alcohol for a wide range of product applications. The company is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, where a variety of food ingredients and distilled alcohol products are manufactured. Distilled spirits are also produced at company facilities in the adjoined towns of Lawrenceburg and Greendale, Indiana.