Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) products are foodstuffs obtained by protein hydrolysis and are used as ingredients with an authentic bouillon (broth) taste.

Regarding the production process, a distinction can be made between acid-hydrolysed vegetable protein (aHVP), enzymatically produced HVP, and other seasonings e.g. fermented soy sauce. Hydrolysed vegetable protein products are particularly used to round off the taste of soups, sauces, meat products, snacks, and other dishes, as well as for the production of ready-to-cook soups and bouillons.

History

Food technology has for a long time been well aware of the fact that protein hydrolysis produces a meat bouillon-like odour and taste.^[1] In 1831, Berzelius obtained products having a meat bouillon taste when hydrolysing proteins with hydrochloric acid.^[2]

Fisher concluded it was amino acids that contributed to the specific taste.^[3] In 1954, Philipps found out that the bouillon odour could only be detected in hydrolysates manufactured from threonine-containing proteins. Glutamic acid was found to be another important substance suitable to give a particular taste to meals.

Julius Maggi produced acid-catalyzed hydrolyzed vegetable protein industrially for the first time in 1886.^[4]

Technological background

Almost all byproducts rich of protein are suitable for the production of HVP, whereas today mainly protein resources of vegetable origin like maize gluten, soybean meal, or wheat gluten are used.^[5]

Proteins consist of chains of amino acids joined together through amide bonds. Subjected to hydrolysis, the protein is broken down into its component amino acids. In industry, hydrochloric acid is used to perform this process, The resulting acidic mixture is mixed with sodium hydroxide, leaving behind table salt, which comprises up to 20% of the final product.

Manufacturing process

The manufacturing process for HVP varies depending on the desired organoleptic properties of the end product. In general, common vegetable raw materials used in the production of HVP include defatted oil seeds (soy, rapeseed), and protein mainly from maize, wheat, pea, and rice.

For the production of aHVP, the proteins are cooked (hydrolysed) with a diluted (15–20%) hydrochloric acid, at a temperature between 90 and 120 °C for up to 8 hours. After cooling, the hydrolysate is neutralised with either sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide to a pH of 5 to 6. The hydrolysate is filtered to remove the insoluble carbohydrate fraction (humin) and then further refined. The source of the raw material, concentration of the acid, the temperature of the reaction, the time of the reaction, and other factors can all affect the organoleptic properties of the final product. Activated carbon treatment can be employed to remove both flavour and colour components, to the required specification. Following a final filtration, the aHVP may, depending upon the application, be fortified with additional flavouring components. Thereafter, the product can be stored as a liquid at 30–40% dry matter, or alternatively it may be spray dried or vacuum dried and further used as a food ingredient.^[6]

For the production process of enzymatic HVP, enzymes are used to break down the proteins. To break down the protein to amino acids, proteases are added to the mixture of defatted protein and water. Since no salt is formed during the production process, it is common practice to add salt as an ingredient to meet the criteria as described in the European Code of Practice for Bouillons and Consommés. Due to the sensitivity of enzymes to a specific pH, either an acid or a base is added to match the optimum pH. Depending on the activity of the enzymes it, up to 24 hours are needed to break down the proteins. The mixture is heated to inactivate the enzymes and then filtered to remove the insoluble humic acid.

Composition

Liquid aHVP typically contains 55% water, 16% salt, 25% organic substances (thereof 20% protein (amino acids) analysed as about 3% total nitrogen and 2% amino nitrogen).

According to the European Code of Practice for Bouillons and Consommés, hydrolysed protein products intended for retail sale correspond to these characteristics:

Specific gravity at 20 °C min.: 1.22

Total nitrogen min.: 4% (on dry matter)

Amino nitrogen min.: 1,3 % (on dry matter)

Sodium chloride max.: 50% (on dry matter)^[7]

Use in convenience products

When foods are produced by canning, freezing, or drying, some flavour loss is almost inevitable. Manufacturers can use HVP to restore these lost flavours, bring out latent taste characteristics, and generally round off and improve the flavour of the food.^[8] Therefore, HVP is used in a wide variety of products such as in the spice, meat, fish, fine-food, snack, flavour and soup industries.

Allergenicity

According to European law, wheat and soy are subject to allergen labelling in terms of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers. Since wheat and soy used for the production of HVP are not exempted from allergen labelling for formal reasons, HVP produced by using those raw materials has to be labelled with a reference to wheat or soy in the list of ingredients.

Nevertheless, strong evidence indicates at least aHVP is not allergenic, since proteins are degraded to single amino acids which are not likely to trigger an allergic reaction. A recent study has shown that aHVP does not contain detectable traces of proteins or IgE-reactive peptides. This provides strong evidence that aHVP is very unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction to people who are intolerant or allergic to soy or wheat.^[9]

References