Yes whey: cheesemaking waste could make diabetic sweetener

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is partnering with biotechnology company WheyTech Bionics NZ, which is researching how to use whey permeate, a cheesemaking by-product, as a sweetener that is claimed to offer antidiabetic properties.

“An existing patent from Germany shows the high levels of glucose in whey can create a sugar with properties that are anti-diabetic,” said Steve Penno, MPI’s director of investment programmes, referring to a patent that WheyTech Bionics has licensed.

“Part of the project’s research and development process will involve exploring the manufacturing and efficacy of an equivalent product made from New Zealand whey.”

MPI has committed more than $111,000 to the $277,903 project under the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund.

WheyTech Bionics NZ’s Chief Executive Officer Ben Van Rooy said: “We need to stop overlooking whey, as it’s a marvellous product.

“We already have significant support from many quarters, in particular beverage companies keen to try alternative sugars. Also, the chocolate and bakery sectors are interested in replacing what we know as normal sugars with whey-derived product.

“Currently there are no New Zealand-made sweeteners on retail shelves. The imported sweeteners often have artificial ingredients added that don’t have any health benefits. This gap in the market presents a real opportunity.”

Raw materials for the trials are being provided by milk producers from Canterbury, Hamilton and Tauranga. The trials themselves are being conducted by Plant & Food Research in Palmerston North and FoodSouth at the University of Canterbury.

“We’ve already managed to make a liquid syrup but we’re still working on the flavour profile,” Van Rooy said. “We’re also conducting research to ensure our product is stable and consistent.

“Our next challenge will be to turn the product into a stable powder format that can be used in nutraceuticals. This will be technically tricky due to its stickiness but if we manage to achieve this, it’ll be a world first.

“We’re hoping to eventually create a pharmaceutical product that doctors will prescribe for type 2 diabetes. Of course, this will require extensive testing and clinical trials so will be a few years away — but this is my ultimate dream.”

Steve Penno said that using a waste by-product was a compelling reason to offer support to the project.

“One of the strategic objectives of the Fit for a Better World government and sector roadmap is the sustainable and profitable growth of value-added products from existing raw material.

“If this project is successful it will make a positive difference to our dairy industry, our environment and potentially people with type 2 diabetes.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Kolupaev