Ingredient Encyclopedia

Pea Protein (Isolate & Concentrate)

Share

Quick Summary Category: Proteins · Sourcing Origin: Europe, China · Form: Concentrate (~80% protein) and Isolate (~90% protein) · Standard Pack Size: 25 kg · Primary Applications: vegan/plant-based protein products, dairy-free formulations, sports nutrition

What Is Pea Protein?

Pea protein is a plant-derived protein extracted from yellow split peas, supplied in both concentrate (~80% protein) and isolate (~90% protein) grades. It has become the default plant protein for formulators needing a dairy-free, allergen-friendlier alternative to whey or soy with a relatively complete amino acid profile compared to most other single plant sources.

Specification & Form

AttributeDetail
Concentrate protein content~80%
Isolate protein content~90%
DigestibilityReal ileal digestibility ~93.6%, close to (though modestly below) casein's ~96.8% per direct human-trial comparison
Limiting amino acidMethionine/sulfur amino acids commonly first-limiting in legume proteins generally
Standard pack size25 kg

How It's Sourced

YNP Ingredients sources pea protein from certified manufacturers in Europe and China, supplied in concentrate and isolate grades with FSSAI-compliant documentation.

Applications

  • Vegan and plant-based protein powders
  • Dairy-free meal replacement products
  • Sports nutrition blends (often paired with rice protein to balance amino acid profile)
  • Functional food fortification

Industries Served

Sports Nutrition · Functional Food · Nutraceuticals/Dietary Supplements

Benefits

  • Lactose-free, avoiding major dairy and soy allergens
  • Relatively high digestibility, close to a dairy reference protein per direct human-trial data
  • Suitable for clean-label, vegan, and dairy-free formulation claims

Buyer Checklist

  • Confirmed concentrate (~80%) or isolate (~90%) grade in your quote
  • Sample-tested solubility and mouthfeel for your specific application
  • Considered whether a rice protein blend is needed to address pea protein's limiting amino acids
  • Confirmed sourcing origin (Europe or China) and documentation requirements

Common Mistakes

Assuming pea protein mixes identically to whey. Plant proteins generally behave differently in beverage formulations — always sample-test first.

Making an unqualified "complete protein" claim without addressing the limiting amino acid. Verify your claim against the actual amino acid profile, or consider a complementary blend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Glossary Terms

References

Company Information

  • YNP Ingredients, Pea Protein product page, ynpingredients.com/ingredients/pea-protein/16 (grade, sourcing origin, pack size)

Industry Information

  • Le Plénier S, et al. *Real ileal amino acid digestibility of pea protein compared to casein in healthy humans: a randomized trial.* Am J Clin Nutr.
  • Mathai JK, Liu Y, Stein HH. *Values for digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS) for some dairy and plant proteins...* Br J Nutr. 2017;117(4):490-499.
Share this article

Sourcing pea protein for a plant-based formulation?