Study: Faba bean protein could replace animal blood plasma in wet pet food

BENEO has released results from technical trials showing its faba bean protein concentrate can successfully replace spray dried animal blood plasma (ABP) in wet pet food formulations. The company said the trials demonstrated that the plant-based ingredient can provide full or partial ABP replacement without significant changes to product weight or texture while offering cost savings.

The trials, conducted by Passion4Food, a pet food industry service provider, tested faba bean protein concentrate as a 50% and 100% replacement for ABP in high-protein wet pet food loaves. Initial results led to additional trials using recipes suitable for commercial production.

Comparative testing showed faba bean protein concentrate outperformed pea protein concentrate when replacing ABP. While faba bean replacement maintained product hardness and adhesiveness, pea protein concentrate replacement resulted in significant hardness decreases, indicating superior binding capacity for the faba bean ingredient.

BENEO noted the wet pet food segment continues to grow as pet owners seek premium, nutritionally balanced products with high palatability. These products typically contain at least 50% moisture and rely on ABP for texturizing and emulsifying properties, though the ingredient's animal origin and high cost present challenges for manufacturers.

BENEO filed an international patent application for using faba bean protein concentrate as an ABP alternative in wet pet food, published in August 2025.

The faba bean protein concentrate contains 61g protein per 100g dry matter with nearly 90% ileal digestibility. Its amino acid profile is rich in lysine and can complement cereal proteins like rice protein or vital wheat gluten to achieve complete essential amino acid profiles. The ingredient is included in the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials and supports "no grain" pet food claims.

BENEO produces the ingredient in Germany from locally sourced crops, which it said supports supply chain sustainability goals.

"With two in three pet owners considering plant-based proteins to be better for the environment, demand has grown for sustainable and locally sourced vegetal protein ingredients," said Dr. Maygane Ronsmans, product manager animal nutrition at BENEO. "As the technical trials show, BENEO's faba bean protein concentrate offers pet food manufacturers a win-win scenario: producers can decrease their recipe costs while benefitting from secure supply and meeting consumer expectations for more sustainable and plant-based pet foods, without impacting the quality of the end product. This is good news for the growing number of producers committing to clear environmental targets."