Meala unveils clean-label pea protein egg replacer in baked goods

ISRAEL – Food-tech innovator Meala FoodTech, Ltd. has launched Groundbaker, a single-ingredient pea protein designed to replicate the full functionality of eggs in baked goods, offering a breakthrough solution for manufacturers facing rising costs, supply volatility, and clean-label demands.

Eggs have long been a cornerstone of baking, prized for their binding, leavening, emulsifying, and moisture-retaining properties.

However, recent avian flu outbreaks across the US and Europe have triggered global egg shortages and price spikes, prompting bakeries and CPG brands to seek reliable alternatives.

Meala’s Groundbaker steps in as a cost-effective, allergen-free substitute that delivers consistent texture, structure, and volume across a wide range of applications, from pound cakes and brioches to pancakes and pre-made mixes.

“Eggs are considered a cornerstone ingredient in baking due to their versatile functionality,” explains Hadar Ekhoiz-Razmovich, CEO and co-founder of Meala FoodTech.

“Replacing egg with a single, high-performance ingredient that can deliver the desired rise and lightness prized in bakery products is highly challenging.

Groundbaker meets such demands perfectly. Moreover, our texturizing pea protein can easily be integrated into any food production line at low inclusion levels and bring significant cost reduction.”

Unlike conventional egg replacers that rely on complex blends of stabilizers and gums, Groundbaker is a clean-label solution derived entirely from pea protein.

It offers exceptional gelling, foaming, binding, and emulsification capabilities, ensuring baked goods maintain their soft crumb, appealing volume, and shelf-life stability.

Tali Feldman-Sivan, Meala’s co-founder and Chief Business Officer, highlights that Groundbaker can help manufacturers mitigate the risks associated with volatile egg markets, stabilize production costs, and maintain consistent product quality despite ongoing supply chain disruptions.

The innovation has already attracted interest from global food ingredient companies and commercial bakery producers.

The ingredient is supplied in a powdered form, facilitating easier logistics, storage, and handling compared to liquid or more complex alternatives.

Meala recently secured a strategic partnership with a leading European distributor, expanding Groundbaker’s reach across industrial and retail markets.

Founded in 2021, Meala is known for pioneering functional, plant-based ingredients that align with flexitarian lifestyles and allergen-conscious consumers.

With Groundbaker, the company sets a new standard in egg replacement, one that’s clean, efficient, and future-ready.

With rising consumer demand for flexitarian, allergy-friendly, and sustainable products, along with tight constraints on traditional egg supply, Meala’s Groundbaker positions itself as an innovative solution that can elevate baked goods while addressing pressing industry challenges.

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