Queensland turns low-grade peanuts into booming protein powder
A Queensland business is turning second-grade peanuts into a 55% protein powder, helping meet growing demand for protein-enriched foods in Australia and overseas. Plenty Foods, based in Kingaroy, has opened a $22 million factory and is already supplying local customers as well as export markets. The company uses blemished and split peanuts to create a low-fat, high-protein powder using a specialised imported press.
Protein products are now much more than gym shakes, showing up in everyday foods like yoghurt, bread, cereals, snacks, and even fortified water. Plenty Foods says its peanut protein can be an alternative to whey, soy, and pea protein because it is dairy-free, gluten-free, and has a milder taste. The company is also targeting markets like India, while local growers hope the new demand will lift prices and build confidence in the peanut sector.
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