Food processing technology to make meatless foods that mimic the appearance, flavor, texture, and mouthfeel of meat yet contain no hormones, cholesterol, or saturated fat is offered by Clextral, a manufacturer of twin screw extrusion food processing equipment. Clextral’s twin screw extruders transform plant protein mixtures into meat, poultry and seafood analogs in chunks, slices, shreds, or custom shapes that can be incorporated into soups, sauces, stews, and entrées or ethnic foods such as fajitas, eggrolls, stromboli and steam buns. Through food developer partnerships, the company can create market-ready entrées such as chicken fingers, brochette, boneless BBQ ribs, sausage, meatloaf, calamari, roast beef,pulled pork and more.

Three categories of plant protein foods are offered with many variations possible withineach segment; Vegetarian with gluten combine soy, gluten (protein from wheat, rye, barley) and other plant protein sources (lentils, chickpea, green pea…etc); Vegetarian gluten-free; and Vegan which may combine any type of plant protein but no dairy components. The twin screw extruder mixes and cooks the ingredients under tightly controlled parameters, and a critical step in the process is fibration that creates the mouthfeel and meat-like “bite” that is essential in gaining consumer acceptance.

For more information visit www.clextral.com.