Cream of the Crop – New Concepts in Dairy

04 Jul 2017 --- Dairy may already be regarded as a staple in many diets, but that does not mean that it can't play a leading role in innovative new product development. At the 2017 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo, the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) showcased the meaning of the slogan for the dairy community’s new consumer engagement campaign, Undeniably Dairy, with four new prototypes. According to the council, these concepts highlight dairy ingredients’ ability to provide unmatched taste, a breadth of nutritional benefits and versatility to be used across a diverse range of applications.

Dairy proteins and permeate enable these prototypes to tap into numerous consumer trends, focusing on high-quality protein, on-the-go nutrition, benefits beyond the label, healthy aging, reduced sodium and globally-inspired tastes.

Frozen Matcha Dairy Bar — This frozen sandwich features a Greek yogurt and milk protein isolate filling, flavored with matcha green tea and wedged between crispy oat wafers. Containing 15g of protein from US dairy ingredients, these are perfect as a frozen breakfast option, for a high-protein snack and as an on-the-go, high-protein matcha item. 

Milk and Honey Bedtime Beverage — This chai and honey-infused beverage is made with reduced-fat milk, milk protein isolate and micellar casein concentrate. Each serving packs 20g of dairy protein and half of the US daily value for calcium. The result is a creamy and nutritious drink which can help consumers wind down after a busy day or intense workout and still reap the benefits of high-quality protein.

Whey Protein Cherry Switchel — When dairy protein is added to a traditional switchel beverage (a vinegar-based drink), consumers get a refreshing drink with added value. At just 120 calories per 8 oz. serving, the switchel provides benefits that include improved muscle health thanks to 11g of high-quality protein from US whey protein isolate. 

Reduced-sodium Protein Udon Soup — An easy-to-prepare comfort food gets an upgrade with reduced sodium and authentic flavors. The savory, protein-enriched udon noodles and Asian broth dish contains 11g of protein per serving with 45 percent less sodium than similar products on the market. High-quality US dairy ingredients, including whey protein concentrate and whey permeate, add nutritional value to this upscale, yet convenient, comfort food.

“These prototypes showcase key features that food and beverage manufacturers can add to their products and how US dairy ingredients are indispensable for delivering function, flavor and nutrition to achieve targeted formulation benefits,” says Vikki Nicholson, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing for USDEC. “The quality and availability that responsibly-produced US dairy proteins can bring to applications is a combination that is unmatched.”