Ingredion partners with Oobli to develop game-changing sugar reduction solutions

USA – Ingredion, a leading ingredient solutions provider, has partnered with Oobli, a sweet protein technology platform, to focus on developing sugar reduction solutions for the food and beverage industry. 

This collaboration aims to accelerate the use of sweet proteins, which are both cost-effective and beneficial for health. 

The two companies plan to pair natural sweetener solutions, such as stevia, with Oobli’s sweet proteins to create innovative alternatives to traditional sugar.

Sweet proteins, which have no glycemic impact and do not affect the gut microbiome, are produced through fermentation. 

These proteins are being promoted as a sustainable alternative to sugar because they require less land, water, and carbon than conventional sugarcane farming. 

Oobli’s sweet proteins are seen as a game-changing solution for replacing sugar in a wide range of food products, including sodas, baked goods, yogurts, and candies. 

Ali Wing, CEO of Oobli, emphasized the significance of sweet proteins, stating, “Sweet proteins are a long-overdue addition to the toolkit of better-for-you sweeteners,” adding that the collaboration with Ingredion will result in “game-changing solutions in this important, growing and timely category.”

The partnership between Ingredion and Oobli comes after both companies conducted extensive customer feedback and testing of co-developed products. 

The goal is to understand how sweet proteins can complement other natural sweeteners like stevia, helping food manufacturers achieve optimal sweetness levels while meeting nutrition goals and managing costs.

 Ingredion’s VP and GM of Sugar Reduction and Fiber Fortification, Nate Yates, stated, “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.”

This collaboration also follows Oobli’s receipt of “no questions” letters from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two of its sweet proteins, monellin and brazzein, confirming their safety for use as sweeteners. 

The partnership between Ingredion and Oobli supports the expansion of sweet proteins as both standalone sweeteners and in combination with other natural sweeteners, like stevia. 

Oobli has already been working closely with major food companies such as Grupo Bimbo to integrate sweet proteins into product formulations.

Additionally, Oobli recently secured US$18 million in Series B1 funding, attracting new strategic investors such as Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures.

The company has also made history as the first to be regulated to sell sweet proteins as sweeteners. Oobli holds four sweet proteins with self-affirmed FDA GRAS status and one protein with FDA FEMA GRAS status. 

The two companies are set to showcase their innovative sweet treats at the Future Food Tech event in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025.