There’s nothing more important than understanding where your food comes from. At Oobli, we’re always excited to share our process for making our irresistible, guilt-free chocolate bars and sweet iced teas. A key part of our process is precision fermentation of plant proteins, but what does this actually mean?
In this article, we’re going to shed some light on precision fermentation, an innovative technology (based on a natural process that's been around for thousands of years) that’s revolutionizing the way we think about proteins and sweeteners. Get ready to discover a new frontier in food science and its potential to shape the future of sustainable, ethical, and healthy eating!
What are Precision Fermented Proteins?
First of all, what is precision fermentation? Precision fermentation is a groundbreaking technology that harnesses the power of microbes (in our case, yeast) to produce high-quality plant proteins. It involves a controlled fermentation process, similar to how beer, wine, and cheese are made.
The yeast is engineered to produce the desired proteins, which for Oobli are the sweet proteins that we use to make our one-of-a-kind, game-changing, sweet treats, without the downsides of sugar or artificial sweeteners and guilt!
How Does it Work?
The whole process starts with a protein. In our case, we’re using nature-identical sweet proteins which are found in certain rare fruits. These incredibly special proteins can be more than 5,000 times more sweet than sugar, but metabolize as dietary proteins (instead of carbohydrate). As you can imagine, the benefits of sweet proteins like this are almost limitless, which is why we’re so excited to use them.
Once we choose our protein, we identify the genes responsible for producing sweet proteins, which tell the yeast which plant protein to produce. The yeast is then added to a fermentation tank filled with a nutrient-rich broth to feed the yeast, which then multiplies, producing sweet proteins identical to the ones found in the tropical fruit we started with.
Why Does it Matter?
So that’s an overview of how sweet proteins are made using precision fermentation protein, but why is it important to know all this? Well, because there’s a very good chance that you’re going to be hearing a lot more about this groundbreaking process in the coming years.
Precision fermentation is already becoming a very popular technique in the food production industry, for things like:
- Plant-based meat alternatives
- Dairy alternatives like cheese, milk, yogurt, and more
- Nutritional supplements like powders and bars
- And, of course, to make sweet plant proteins that can literally redefine sweet foods that are better for our bodies and the planet
It’s important to understand how precision protein fermentation works, why it’s safe, and the different benefits that this process can deliver compared to traditional food production methods.
Meet the Future of Sweetness: Sweet Proteins and Precision Fermentation
At Oobli, we’re pioneers in using precision fermentation proteins to produce sweet proteins. So why are we so excited about this? Because sweet proteins have the power to change an entire industry, not to mention the world!
Artificial sweeteners (think aspartame vs sucralose) have become incredibly popular in recent years, as we search for sweetness without the calories. However, they’ve been linked with a variety of health issues, including digestive issues, migraines, and (strangely) weight gain.
Plus, there’s even some emerging evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners cause insulin levels to spike. Previously, artificial sweeteners were believed not to have this type of health impact, which made them a popular option among people with metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes. As more research comes out, it looks like artificial sweeteners may do a lot more harm than good.
Not only can sweet proteins be used as a sugar substitute, but they don’t bring any of the health concerns that come with artificial sweeteners. With zero calories, no weird aftertaste, no affect on the gut microbiome (in fact, sweet proteins never make it to the lower intestine) and even some health benefits like anti-inflammatory properties, choosing sweet proteins over artificial sweetness is the easiest choice you’ll make.
Want to hear some even better news? Sweet proteins are much, much better for the planet than traditional sugar production. Sugar production, particularly from conventional crops like sugarcane and sugar beets, can have significant environmental impacts. It requires a lot of land and water, both of which are in increasingly short supply!
Sugar production also often involves the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which can end up in local waterways, causing damage to aquatic life as well as people in nearby communities. The cultivation, processing, and transportation of sugar crops are also associated with significant greenhouse gas emissions, leaving behind a size 15 carbon footprint.
On the other hand, sweet proteins produced via precision fermentation offer a more sustainable alternative, requiring very little land or water use, and not dumping any pesticides or fertilizers into the environment. Zero calories AND no negative impact on the planet? Sweet proteins really are the ultimate guilt-free solution!
Want to Experience the Magic of Precision Fermentation of Sweet Proteins Firsthand?
Precision fermentation sounds like an incredible solution for a lot of the issues facing the food and health industries right now, but what’s it really like? If you’re ready to taste the potential of precision fermentation for yourself, you’re in the right place!
At Oobli, we’re so excited to bring our revolutionary new products, made with sweet proteins that won't hurt your health or the planet. Plus, they taste amazing! Try our incredible sweet iced teas, available in a variety of quenching flavors and totally free from ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Looking for something a little more decadent? Our dark chocolate bars will have you wondering why you ever settled for anything less! Vegan, keto-friendly, and 100% guilt-free, you’ll be able to savor every bite without needing to justify the next one.
Ready to meet the future of sweet? Explore our products and join the movement toward sustainable sweeteners that are good for you, genuinely.
Bringing Our Conversation on Precision Fermentation Protein to a Close
Hopefully, you now have an understanding of how precision fermentation works, and how it can be used to create sweet proteins, the small but mighty building blocks of a new future of food. As you can tell, we’re pretty darn excited about precision fermentation and the production of sweet proteins, and we hope you are too!
Don’t be shy, get your hands on some Oobli goodness right now!
