The present invention concerns a process wherein native and functional protein isolates can be successfully obtained from plant material such as oilseeds, legumes and lentils. This can be achieved by a proper pre-treatment of the plant material, followed by a method of extracting proteins under mild and non-destructive conditions using an aqueous solvent, followed by fractionation, concentration and further purification using a novel combination of GRAS organic solvents.

The present invention concerns a process wherein native and functional protein isolates can be successfully obtained from plant material such as oilseeds, legumes and lentils. This can be achieved by a proper pre-treatment of the plant material, followed by a method of extracting proteins under mild and non-destructive conditions using an aqueous solvent, followed by fractionation, concentration and further purification using a novel combination of GRAS organic solvents.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to protein granules containing a soy protein as a main component, the protein granules having an average particle diameter of 150 μm to 220 μm, a homogeneity U of 0.58 or less, a content ratio (volume ratio) of a coarse powder having a particle diameter of 300 μm or more of 27% or less, and a content ratio (volume ratio) of a fine powder having a particle diameter of 100 μm or less of 30% or less.

Provided herein are compositions obtained from processing pongamia oilseeds. The resulting pongamia compositions may be in the form of meal, and have an optimized nutritional composition achieved by subjecting pongamia oilseeds to certain processing steps. The resulting pongamia compositions may also have reduced levels of karanjin, pongamol and tannins. Such pongamia compositions may be suitable as food or food ingredients to humans and other animals.

The present invention is directed to pulse protein products, very low in, or substantially free of, pea/vegetable flavour notes characteristic of conventional commercial pulse protein products and useful for the fortification of food and beverage products and prepared without the use of salt in the process. The pulse protein products of the present invention are obtained by extracting pulse protein source with water to form an aqueous pulse protein solution, at least partially separating the aqueous pulse protein solution from residual pulse protein source, adjusting the pH of the aqueous pulse protein solution to a pH of about 1.5 to about 3.4 to solubilize the bulk of the protein and form an acidified pulse protein solution then separating the acidified pulse protein solution from the acid insoluble solid material. The acidified pulse protein solution may be dried following optional concentration and diafiltration to form a pulse protein product, which may be an isolate. The acid insoluble solid material may be washed with acidified water and then dried to form another pulse protein product. These products may be dried at the acidic pH at which they were prepared or may be adjusted in pH before drying. Also described is the preparation of an acid soluble protein product, which may be an isolate, and which provides acidic solutions of improved clarity and is derived from the acidified pulse protein solution.

The present invention is directed to pulse protein products, very low in, or substantially free of, pea/vegetable flavour notes characteristic of conventional commercial pulse protein products and useful for the fortification of food and beverage products and prepared without the use of salt in the process. The pulse protein products of the present invention are obtained by extracting pulse protein source with water to form an aqueous pulse protein solution, at least partially separating the aqueous pulse protein solution from residual pulse protein source, adjusting the pH of the aqueous pulse protein solution to a pH of about 1.5 to about 3.4 to solubilize the bulk of the protein and form an acidified pulse protein solution then separating the acidified pulse protein solution from the acid insoluble solid material. The acidified pulse protein solution may be dried following optional concentration and diafiltration to form a pulse protein product, which may be an isolate. The acid insoluble solid material may be washed with acidified water and then dried to form another pulse protein product. These products may be dried at the acidic pH at which they were prepared or may be adjusted in pH before drying. Also described is the preparation of an acid soluble protein product, which may be an isolate, and which provides acidic solutions of improved clarity and is derived from the acidified pulse protein solution.

The present invention is directed to non-soy oilseed protein products, very low in, or free of, beany, green, vegetable or similar flavour notes and useful for the fortification of food and beverage products and prepared without the use of salt in the process. The non-soy oilseed protein products of the present invention are obtained by extracting non-soy oilseed protein source with water to form an aqueous non-soy oilseed protein solution, at least partially separating the aqueous non-soy oilseed protein solution from residual non-soy oilseed protein source, adjusting the pH of the aqueous non-soy oilseed protein solution to a pH between about 1.5 and a value about 1 pH unit lower than the typical pH of isoelectric precipitation to solubilize the bulk of the protein and form an acidified non-soy oilseed protein solution then separating the acidified non-soy oilseed protein solution from the acid insoluble solid material. The acidified non-soy oilseed protein solution may be dried following optional concentration and diafiltration to form a non-soy oilseed protein product, which may be an isolate. The acid insoluble solid material may be washed with acidified water and then dried to form another non-soy oilseed protein product. These products may be dried at the acidic pH at which they were prepared or may be adjusted in pH before drying.

The present invention is directed to non-soy oilseed protein products, very low in, or free of, beany, green, vegetable or similar flavour notes and useful for the fortification of food and beverage products and prepared without the use of salt in the process. The non-soy oilseed protein products of the present invention are obtained by extracting non-soy oilseed protein source with water to form an aqueous non-soy oilseed protein solution, at least partially separating the aqueous non-soy oilseed protein solution from residual non-soy oilseed protein source, adjusting the pH of the aqueous non-soy oilseed protein solution to a pH between about 1.5 and a value about 1 pH unit lower than the typical pH of isoelectric precipitation to solubilize the bulk of the protein and form an acidified non-soy oilseed protein solution then separating the acidified non-soy oilseed protein solution from the acid insoluble solid material. The acidified non-soy oilseed protein solution may be dried following optional concentration and diafiltration to form a non-soy oilseed protein product, which may be an isolate. The acid insoluble solid material may be washed with acidified water and then dried to form another non-soy oilseed protein product. These products may be dried at the acidic pH at which they were prepared or may be adjusted in pH before drying.

The present invention is directed to a rapeseed protein isolate having a DIAAS value which is equal to or higher than 50. Further, the invention relates to a method for preparing such rapeseed protein isolate, to the use of such rapeseed protein isolate and to a food product comprising a rapeseed protein isolate having a high DIAAS value.

Embodiments herein are directed to egg replacement compositions, egg replacement emulsions, liquid eggs, liquid egg formulations, or egg replacement formulations and the use of each in a variety of food products, wherein the egg replacement compositions, egg replacement emulsions, liquid eggs, liquid egg formulations, or egg replacement formulations possess one or more functional properties similar to a natural egg.