ProChick: From a surplus product to protein ingredient targeting older adults

A natural part of the ageing process is loss of muscle mass. To reduce the loss of muscle mass, the Danish Health Authority recommends adults over the age of 65 to increase their intake of protein corresponding to 15-20% of the daily energy intake.

This is equivalent to 1.1-1.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The most recent study of dietary habits in Denmark from 2011-2013 conducted by the National Food Institute (DTU) showed that only half of the apparently healthy older adults aged 65-75 years met the official protein recommendations. If you are old, sick or healthy, a too low intake of protein can have adverse consequences for muscle strength and muscle function and thus for the ability to cope with activities of daily living. For this target group, protein-enriched foods can help to reach the recommendations. The protein powder used must be of high quality in terms of amino acid composition and content of vitamins and minerals.

Chicken proteins have the advantage of a high nutritional value and an optimal amino acid composition in relation to human requirements for amino acids. In addition, chicken proteins contain essential minerals such as selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium as well as B vitamins in amounts that can contribute to a significantly increased intake in risk groups with a low energy intake or malnutrition. Chicken proteins have the advantage of a neutral taste and can therefore be added in high concentrations up to 15-20% to meals and foods without affecting the taste.

ProChick will utilize side streams from chicken slaughterhouses to produce a new, high-quality protein powder. Side streams are the term for all left over from the chicken after removal of the cuts sold to consumers such as chest and thighs. Today, side streams are perceived as waste products. The ProChick project focuses on making a more sustainable use of side streams by using them for human nutrition.

The aim is that the enriched products/meals meet recommendations for nutrient intake, are tasty, microbiologically safe and have a shelf life similar to other products in the category.

In the ProChick project, it is UCPH's responsibility to support the development of protein-enriched products and support the evaluation at UCPH at Department of Food Science with an older Danish adult sensory panel, with consumers and in a normal setting.

The older Danish adult panel is a trained panel that will assess the products' sensory properties in relation to appearance, smell, taste, texture etc. The consumer test is performed by older adults over 60 years. They evaluate the fortified products on a hedonic linking scale in relation to the look, smell, taste, texture; on emotions evoked by the products; and the attitude and willingness to buy protein-enriched products.

Testing in a normal setting will e.g. be in a nursing home. Here, a selection of the protein-enriched products will be served at times when it is natural to consume the given product/meal. The older adults will be asked what they think about appearance, taste and texture. The aim is to assess the acceptability of protein-enriched products as part of habitual diet.

In addition, the suitability of the chicken protein powder in professional kitchens will be investigated e.g. in a hospital or nursing home.