Oobli, a biotechnology company specializing in sweet proteins, has announced a partnership with global ingredient solutions provider Ingredion. The collaboration aims to expand industry access to alternative sweetener systems by integrating Oobli’s sweet proteins with Ingredion’s portfolio, including stevia.
Sweet proteins, derived from natural sources and produced through precision fermentation, offer a low-calorie alternative to traditional sweeteners. These proteins can be used in a variety of food and beverage applications, including sodas, baked goods, yogurts, and confectionery, either as standalone ingredients or in combination with other sweeteners.
“Our work with sweet proteins is an exciting new chapter in that journey”
Ingredion, which has been actively expanding its sugar reduction solutions, views sweet proteins as a complementary addition to its existing product lines. Nate Yates, VP and GM of sugar reduction and fiber fortification at Ingredion, 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.”
The two companies recently tested a series of co-developed sweetener solutions, incorporating both sweet proteins and stevia. Encouraged by positive consumer feedback, Oobli and Ingredion plan to showcase some of these formulations at Future Food-Tech in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025.
Milestones and industry strategy
The partnership follows Oobli’s recent regulatory and financial milestones. The company has received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) “no questions” letters from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two sweet proteins, monellin and brazzein, confirming their safety for use in food and beverages. Oobli also closed an $18 million Series B1 funding round, securing investment from Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures, alongside existing investors such as Khosla Ventures and Piva Capital.
Ingredion’s collaboration with Oobli is part of a broader strategy to expand its portfolio of plant-based and alternative ingredients. In addition to its work with sweet proteins, the company recently partnered with Lantmännen to develop yellow pea protein isolate.
Ali Wing, CEO of Oobli commented, “Sweet proteins are a long-overdue addition to the toolkit of better-for-you sweeteners. 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.”
