Oobli, a company developing a sweet protein platform, has partnered with ingredient solutions provider Ingredion to advance the development of natural sweetener solutions.
This collaboration expects to bring affordable, healthier, and better-tasting sweeteners to the industry.
Together, Oobli and Ingredion will combine natural sweeteners like stevia with Oobli’s sweetening proteins.
Oobli is dedicated to replacing sugar in food and beverage products.
The company claimed that its sweet proteins have no glycaemic impact and do not affect the gut microbiome. Produced through fermentation, these proteins are a cost-effective, climate-friendly alternative to traditional sweeteners, saving significant land, water, and carbon emissions compared to farmed sugarcane.
In late 2023, the sweet protein developer launched Oobli Milk Chocolate bars, thereby expanding its sweet protein-powered product portfolio.
Last year, in May, Oobli partnered with Grupo Bimbo to integrate sweet proteins into baked products.
Ingredion Pure Circle CEO and sugar reduction and fibre fortification general manager Nate Yates said: “We’ve long been at the forefront of innovation in sugar reduction solutions, and our work with sweet proteins is an exciting new chapter in that journey.
“Whether we’re enhancing existing sweetener systems with sweet proteins or using our established sweeteners to unlock new possibilities, we see incredible synergies across these platforms.”
Oobli and Ingredion recently examined different co-developed products to explore sweet proteins and stevia. Consumer feedback was positive, supporting their partnership.
In March 2025, both companies will unveil these sweet treats at the Future Food Tech in San Francisco.
Oobli’s partnership with Ingredion follows the company’s recent achievement of receiving a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) “no questions” letter for two sweet proteins, monellin and brazzein. This designation confirms their safety for use in food and beverage products.
Additionally, the sweet protein platform firm has secured $18m in Series B1 funding.
This funding will support Oobli’s expansion in the food and beverage sector, focusing on sweet proteins both as a standalone solution and in combination with other natural sweeteners like stevia.
Oobli CEO Ali Wing said: “Working with Ingredion’s best-in-class teams to pair natural sweeteners with our novel sweet proteins will deliver game-changing solutions in this important, growing and timely category.”
