USA – dsm-firmenich has launched a new range of ModulaSENSE maskers designed to improve the taste of Vertis CanolaPRO, its rapeseed protein isolate, in ready-to-mix drinks and protein bars.
The new maskers are now available in North America, with a European launch scheduled for September 2025.
Developed using receptor-based technology, the ModulaSENSE maskers target specific taste components such as bitterness, astringency, and licorice-like notes at the molecular level. This approach allows food and beverage manufacturers to incorporate higher levels of Vertis CanolaPRO into products without negatively affecting taste.
Vertis CanolaPRO is a plant-based protein derived from rapeseed, containing all nine essential amino acids. It has a protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score of one and is free from major allergens including milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.
The ingredient is also certified upcycled, utilizing a side stream from canola oil production to provide a sustainable protein option with solubility, foaming, emulsification, and gelation properties.
Alejandra Camacho, Vice President and Global Innovation Leader for Dairy Taste and Plant-based at dsm-firmenich, stated that the company’s receptor-based masking approach combines molecular understanding of protein structures with technologies that identify optimal masking ratios.
This development aims to meet growing demand in North America and Europe for high-protein, plant-based products that maintain an appealing taste profile.
The plant-based protein market continues to grow as consumers seek alternative sources of protein in their diets. However, sensory challenges, particularly bitterness and astringency in plant protein formulations, remain a barrier to wider adoption in various applications.
dsm-firmenich plans to expand the ModulaSENSE maskers to other product categories beyond RTM drinks and protein bars in the future.
The company operates in nearly 60 countries, employs approximately 30,000 people, and reported revenues of over €12 billion (US$14.03B) last year. It is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange.
Companies such as Kerry and Givaudan are also investing in taste solutions targeting bitterness and off-notes in plant protein products to address similar formulation challenges faced by manufacturers in the functional nutrition sector.
Kerry offers its TasteSense masking range, which targets bitterness, astringency, and other off-notes without overpowering the product’s natural flavor, enabling cleaner-tasting plant-based formulations.
Givaudan, meanwhile, leverages its extensive sensory database and SmartTools software to identify tailored masking solutions for different plant proteins, allowing manufacturers to reduce development time while enhancing taste profiles.