If you have any questions about how soy ingredients and products fit into school meal regulations, call 1-800-TALKSOY.

Soy protein ingredients can be ordered by contacting the following manufacturers:

ADM (Archer Daniels Midland)
Don Hensley
4666 Faries Parkway Decatur, IL 62525

Phone: 217/424-5394
Fax: 217/362-3959

Concentrates / Flour / Isolated Soy Protein / Textured Vegetable Protein

Cargill Protein Products
Gregg Nelson (ext.4057)
P.O. Box 2817
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

Phone: 800/553-5964
Fax: 319/399-4046

Flour / Textured Vegetable Protein

Central Soya Company, Inc.
Kent Holt
P.O. Box 2507
Fort Wayne, IN 46801

Phone: 800/348-0960
Fax: 219/425-5485

Concentrates / Flour / Textured Vegetable Protein

For more information on the products these companies have available, turn to the Product and Vendor section.

 

Soy Protein at a Glance

If you haven't tried using soy ingredients lately, you might be surprised at the options now available. Soy protein products come in three basic categories: isolated soy protein, soy concentrates and soy flours/grits. You can easily incorporate soy protein by purchasing finished meat products that are enhanced with soy. Another option is to work with your meat processor to add soy to commodity meats as they are reprocessed. A third option is to purchase and mix soy protein ingredients with ground meats on-site. Here's a look at the major types of soy protein products.

Isolated Soy Protein

Isolated soy protein is the most refined form of soy protein and is often used in finished meat products. It is available as an ingredient to meat processors in a variety of forms including powders, granules and structured fibers, and to you as a specified ingredient in finished meat products.

These fine powders also can be used in small quantities with textured soy concentrate to improve juiciness during cooking. In this application, some isolated soy proteins can be used interchangeably with functional soy concentrate.

Isolated soy protein functions like lean meat, providing meat-like appearance and texture without affecting the meat-like taste consumers expect. It also improves product tolerance to freeze, thaw, microwave and holding conditions.

Soy Concentrates

Soy concentrates are high-quality products brought about by new processing technologies. Soy concentrates take on the flavor of foods they enhance and tend to improve the overall quality of meat products because they retain moisture and will hold flavor through multiple cooking processes. The two basic types of soy concentrates include:

Textured Soy Concentrates: Available in flakes, small chunks or granules, textured soy concentrates maintain the texture of foods. Textured soy concentrates must be hydrated, and are recommended for use in ground meats. They give a "meaty" mouth-feel and provide a firm texture that remains stable through cooking, freezing and thawing.

Functional Soy Concentrates: These fine powders are used for firmness and moisture control. They are used at low levels to produce a "juicy" mouth-feel. When you combine functional soy concentrates with textured soy concentrates, which is typically the case, you create a juicy, meaty texture.

Soy Flour / Grits / Textured Vegetable Protein

Introduced to school lunches years ago, soy flours and grits are the least refined forms of soy protein. Soy grits have a texture similar to ground beef and have been used as texturizers in stews, chili and spaghetti sauces. When soy flour is textured, it too can be used as a meat substitute. Just like other soy proteins, soy flour has also gone through changes throughout the years, and has improved in quality and consistency.

Textured vegetable protein was one of the first soy proteins to become widely available. It comes in the form of dried granules, flakes and chunks. When granules are rehydrated, they have a texture similar to ground beef.

Note: Soy concentrates, some forms of isolated soy protein and soy flours are typically sold directly to schools in 25- and 44-pound bags with an average shelf-life of one year. Soy protein is also available in a variety of finished products through your broker, supplier or processor.