High-Protein Food Patent Filings Hit 5,626 in a Year, Led by Nestle, Cargill and Arla

The protein boom is not just on the shelf. It is showing up in the patent office.

TLDR

• Global patent applications for high-protein foods reached 5,626 in the year to June 30.
• That is up from 5,148 the year before, and 80% higher than five years earlier.
• Nestle filed 58, Cargill 46 and Arla Foods 28.
• Meat-alternative techniques are being reused to add protein to other foods.

The Numbers

Intellectual property firm Mathys & Squire counted 5,626 global patent applications for high-protein foods in the year ended June 30, up from 5,148 the year before, Food Business News reported. Filings are up 80% compared with five years ago. Nestle led with 58 applications, followed by Cargill with 46 and Arla Foods with 28.

What Is Being Patented

• High-protein dough made with whey microparticles for pastries.
• A plant-based whipping cream with more than twice the protein of traditional cream.
• A protein made from microorganisms for use in confectionery.
• A ready-to-drink high-protein beverage that mimics the smell, texture and flavor of milk.

“Demand for high-protein foods is so strong that manufacturers are looking for every possible way to add protein,” said Michael Stott, a partner at Mathys & Squire. “Many of the techniques originally developed for meat alternatives are now being used to create high-protein versions” of other foods, he said.

Why It Matters

“This research is creating a vast library of hugely valuable intellectual property for food companies,” Stott said. Patents filed today will shape which companies own the textures, formats and processes behind the next wave of high-protein products, and how hard they are to copy.

Source: Food Business News. Read the report.