Reductants may reduce microbial bioburden in protein solutions. Reducing bioburden can increase shelf life or ensure the safety of food or pharmaceutical products. The use of reductants to reduce bioburden in producing non-animal-based food products may also have additional advantages. For example, chroma and hue angle may be improved so that the non-animal-based food products may closely resemble the appearance of animal-based food products. Embodiments may include a method for forming a food product precursor. The method may include providing a first mixture. The first mixture may include a protein. The method may further include adding a reductant to the first mixture to form a second mixture. The method may also include heating the second mixture at a temperature for a duration to form a third mixture. The third mixture may be the food product precursor. Embodiments may include the food product precursor.