Meala and dsm-firmenich bring Vertis PB pea protein to market in Europe

Israeli foodtech startup, Meala, has joined forces with global nutrition company dsm-firmenich to launch Vertis PB Pea, a new texturizing pea protein designed to streamline the formulation of plant-based meat alternatives. The multifunctional ingredient is now commercially available in Europe via dsm-firmenich and is positioned as a clean-label, allergen-free solution that enhances texture, nutrition, and simplicity in meat alternative products.

“This single, multifunctional ingredient is designed to replace existing binders,” confirmed Hadar Ekhoiz Razmovich, Meala CEO & Co-founder. “It consolidates the functionality of multiple components like binding, gelation, and emulsifying properties. We focused on unlocking the natural potential of pea protein through a proprietary process, without additives or chemical modification. The result is a clean-label ingredient that simplifies formulations while delivering great performance.

“We use naturally occurring biocatalysts and processes to give our pea protein advanced binding, emulsifying, and gelling properties,” she continued. “These capabilities go well beyond what conventional pea proteins or other plant-based proteins offer today.”

For food manufacturers, Razmovich said the appeal is clear. “It enables producers to shorten and clean up the ingredient lists without compromise,” she said. “They can now bring to the market a product with a clean label that consumers are looking for, enjoy the same taste and texture but with a shorter list of ingredients while delivering nutritional value of protein alongside textural functionality.”

Consumer demand for shorter, more natural ingredient lists continues to grow, particularly in Europe. A recent study by the EIT Food Consumer Observatory found that 67% of Europeans dislike seeing unknown ingredients in their food, and 56% actively try to avoid processed products. Vertis PB Pea is designed to address this shift, helping brands formulate products that align with current health and wellness preferences.

“Consumers are increasingly looking for products that offer both great texture and a clean, short, and recognizable simple ingredient list that aligns with their wellness goals,” Razmovich said. “Brands can meet this demand by replacing the multiple binders and texturizers they currently use with a single ingredient – our pea protein –which delivers both protein nutritional value and excellent texture functionality. It is basically labeled as pea protein.”

One of the ingredient’s standout features is its thermostability, which allows it to perform consistently across a wide range of temperatures – from freezing to cooking and reheating – without compromising quality.

“Our product’s thermostability is a game changer,” Razmovich said. “It’s what allows our proteins to replace an entire binding system that would otherwise require multiple components. While most conventional ingredients function well only at specific temperature ranges – either high or low – our solution retains its performance across both. It remains stable and functional throughout the entire product journey – from production, freezing, defrosting, and cooking, all the way to the final plated meal.”

Patents have been key to Meala’s ability to maintain a competitive edge in a fast-moving industry, she added.

“They are essential for safeguarding both our ingredient, its unique functionalities, and applications in food products,” she said. “We believe that strong IP protection is essential to fueling innovation and securing our lasting competitive advantage.”

Meala’s collaboration with dsm-firmenich has been instrumental in scaling and commercializing the ingredient. The deal includes both distribution and venture investment, with dsm-firmenich offering support across regulatory, application development, and go-to-market execution.

“Absolutely – it’s been a game-changer,” Razmovich said of the collaboration. “dsm-firmenich is a global leader in health and nutrition. The company combines cutting-edge bioscience with world-class taste innovation to create sustainable, science-backed solutions that improve lives. They bring deep technical expertise, a strong global network, and unmatched market access. Their support in regulatory, application development, and scaling has accelerated our path to market. They’ve helped open doors, validate the ingredient with key players, and fast-track commercial traction.”

With demand growing quickly, Meala has invested in production scaleup through experienced European manufacturing partners. “Scaling up is definitely a challenge, but we’ve planned for this in advance and are always one step ahead,” she said. “We’ve built strong partnerships with experienced manufacturing partners. This lets us meet growing demand efficiently, without compromising on quality or consistency. Importantly, we produce in Europe, which allows us to be closer to our main market.”

Clean-label and allergen-free formulations are increasingly important across the food industry, and Razmovich said consumers are becoming more discerning and intentional in what they buy. “Consumers are becoming much more ingredient-aware – they are reading labels, avoiding allergens, and looking for products that align with their health and sustainability values,” she said. “At Meala, we’re addressing this shift head-on by developing clean-label, allergen-free solutions like Vertis PB Pea. It replaces multiple additives with a single, natural ingredient that delivers both functionality and nutrition.”

Sustainability is also central to Meala’s long-term strategy. While Vertis PB Pea supports cleaner formulations, it also helps reduce environmental impact by streamlining production and cutting down on resource-intensive ingredients.

“The plant-based category is experiencing significant and sustained growth, driven by consumer demand for healthier, more sustainable, and ethically produced food,” said Razmovich. “At Meala, we believe sustainability starts at the ingredient level. Our pea protein is designed to help food producers create cleaner, plant-based products – a versatile protein solution that not only enhances product performance but also supports a more sustainable food system, lower emissions, reduced resource use, and a shorter ingredient list that consumers trust.”

Looking ahead, Meala plans to diversify its platform to include additional protein sources and new functionalities. “We’re just getting started. So stay tuned,” Razmovich said. “Over the next years, Meala aims to expand our protein platform into new vegetable protein sources and functionalities, continuing to simplify and clean-label formulations across a wide range of food categories. Our goal is to become the ‘go-to partner’ for the next-gen, clean-label ingredient solutions that drive the future of food in all categories.”

(Main photo courtesy of Yossi Massa)