In the past, consumers generally designated protein for bodybuilders and athletes. Today, it’s seen as an essential part of the average person’s daily diet, leading many people to wonder how they can add protein to their diet, says Michael Sutich, senior product manager at Farbest Brands,based in Park Ridge, N.J. This change in consumer thinking has led to a proliferation of protein ingredients and claims in a wide range of food and beverage products, he says.
Recently, Minneapolis-based Cargill set out to understand just how important protein is to the average consumer. The company surveyed more than 1,900 U.S. grocery shoppers and found that nearly half indicated that they are trying to get more protein in their diets, according to Pam Stauffer, global marketing programs manager. Furthermore, one in four said that more protein is always better, and six in 10 were at least somewhat likely to check the ingredient list for protein, according to the company’s 2018 proprietary research.