AI-driven food tech firm Shiru has begun commercial production of two functional plant-based ingredients—uPro and OleoPro—designed to meet growing regulatory and consumer demand for clean-label formulations in the food and beverage sector.
The move comes as US policymakers continue to pressure manufacturers to eliminate artificial ingredients and added sugars from consumer products. Shiru’s rapid development and scale-up were made possible through its proprietary AI platform, Flourish, which shortens ingredient discovery timelines from years to months.
uPro is a structured protein derived from potato, offering emulsifying and texturising properties. It can be used to replace synthetic additives in various oil-based food applications and is simply labelled as “potato protein” for consumers.
OleoPro, also based on potato protein combined with unsaturated oils, serves as a solid fat alternative at room temperature. It delivers over 90% less saturated fat than traditional solid fats while maintaining desirable cooking properties such as browning and mouthfeel.
Both ingredients are made from GRAS-designated components and are now available for commercial use. Shiru reports strong interest from global CPG firms looking to adapt quickly to cleaner labelling requirements while maintaining product performance.
Production has scaled to meet high-volume demand, with capacity in place to manufacture thousands of metric tonnes of OleoPro annually. Early applications are focused on food, but Shiru has seen initial interest from adjacent sectors where texturising and fat-mimicking functions are also valuable.
The company notes that both ingredients are gross-margin positive from launch, positioning them as commercially viable alternatives for brands seeking to enhance product nutrition and sustainability without compromising on functionality.