The company’s Solae Supro isolated soy protein (ISP) portfolio has been commercially available and used globally across beverages, nutrition bars, dairy alternatives, and functional foods for several decades.
In March 2026, a general level heart health claim (GLHC) for ISP was accepted by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), after it was recognized to meet the requirements set out in Standard 1.2.7 of the ANZ Food Standards Code, which regulates nutrition content and health claims on food labels and advertising.
Under the new permission, foods formulated to help consumers achieve a daily intake of 20 to 25g of ISP may carry the heart health claim.
According to Dr Mark Cope, nutrition scientist in the Protein Solutions department at IFF, consumer awareness in ANZ regarding the specific link between soy protein and heart health has been moderate historically.
“While soy is commonly associated with plant-based eating and protein quality, the lack of an on-pack heart health claim limits broader consumer understanding,” he told NutraIngredients.
“The GLHC in ANZ arrives at a time when cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, are highly prevalent, affecting around 60% of Australian adults and a substantial proportion of New Zealanders. This underscores the relevance of clearer, evidence‑based heart health communication.”
This claim gives nutrition companies and product developers the opportunity to explore new formulations that combine plant‑forward, science-backed ingredients to support heart health in practical, accessible ways.
For IFF, it opens the door to bring plant‑based protein innovation into more everyday foods, using ISP to support cholesterol management while still delivering on taste, texture and nutrition.
Key applications expected to resonate strongly with ANZ consumers include ready-to-drink functional beverages, nutrition and protein bars, fortified plant-based milks, and blended dairy-plant products.
“These formats are familiar, convenient, and well suited for delivering the 20 to 25g daily intake of ISP required for the heart health claim. They also align with regional consumer priorities, such as evidence-based health benefits, taste, sustainability, and everyday usability.”
Research and regulatory recognition
Apart from containing all nine essential amino acids, ISP also has high functional versatility and can be applied in diverse categories, where consumers increasingly seek products that combine taste with clinically supported health benefits.
“IFF has supported important clinical research on ISP, with over 80 randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses indicating that daily intake of approximately 20 to 25g of ISP lowers LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and other blood lipid markers associated with cardiovascular risk,” said Dr Cope.
This body of evidence includes long-term intervention studies in hypercholesterolemic adults and meta-analyses led by academic groups, such as the University of Toronto.
These research formed the scientific basis for regulatory recognition of the link between soy protein consumption and heart health support or cholesterol-lowering in 11 countries, including the US, Canada, and Japan, prior to ANZ.
Backed by decades of research and innovation on its SOLAE SUPRO range, IFF is working with manufacturers across the region to develop next-generation products that combine nutrition science, functionality, and consumer appeal.
