Solar Foods launches Solein Protein Bites in the USA, targeting health and performance nutrition market

Finnish food-tech innovator Solar Foods has officially entered the US market, unveiling a new protein snack concept—Solein Protein Bites. The launch marks the first commercialized product featuring Solein, a novel protein cultivated using air and electricity through a unique fermentation process. By targeting the health and performance nutrition segment, Solar Foods aims to position Solein as a next-generation protein source that is not only highly nutritious but also one of the most sustainable options available today.

Solein Protein Bites – Nut Mix Edition showcases the ingredient’s versatility and nutritional advantages, combining Solein with real peanut butter, hazelnuts, and a chocolate-flavored coating. The protein-packed, bite-sized snack contains iron and vitamin B12, setting it apart from traditional plant-based proteins like soy and pea, which typically lack these essential nutrients. The product is also entirely animal-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and cholesterol-free, making it a suitable option for a variety of dietary preferences.

Solein is positioned as a revolutionary protein ingredient that bridges the gap between plant-based and animal-derived proteins. Unlike conventional plant proteins, Solein provides all nine essential amino acids while also offering iron and vitamin B12, which are typically found in animal products.

“Compared to other protein sources like soy, pea, or whey, Solein is nutritionally unique,” commented Juan Manuel Benítez-García, Chief Commercial Officer at Solar Foods. “It combines the best qualities of both plant and animal proteins while surpassing them in sustainability.”

The company has developed product concepts like Solein Protein Bites to illustrate the ingredient’s capabilities in different consumer applications. Thanks to its neutral taste, Solein can be easily incorporated into a wide range of foods, from snacks and meal replacements to protein-enriched baked goods and dairy alternatives.

“For this first product concept, we wanted to choose the beloved flavors of hazelnuts and peanut butter to demonstrate how seamlessly Solein fits into existing, popular product categories and flavors already on the market,” Benítez-García added. “At Solar Foods, we are revolutionizing food, not eating. This means consumers can continue enjoying the creamy consistencies and rich, indulgent flavors they are accustomed to. When you taste it, you won’t even notice a product is made from a game-changing new ingredient.”

The health and performance nutrition market in the USA represents one of the world’s largest segments for high-protein foods, driven by fitness, wellness, and sustainability trends. With growing consumer demand for nutrient-dense, low-fat, and high-protein products, Solar Foods sees significant potential for Solein’s adoption in this space.

“This is just one example of a product made with Solein,” Benítez-García noted. “By adjusting the amount of Solein and other ingredients, it can be easily modified to meet different consumer needs—for example, increasing protein content to boost performance or adding fiber for healthy snacking throughout the day. It could also be an ideal product for people with special dietary needs.”

The company plans to introduce Solein to key players in the food industry by attending major industry events this spring, including Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California, and SXSW in Austin, Texas. These events will serve as opportunities to engage with potential partners, investors, and food manufacturers interested in incorporating Solein into their own product lines.

Beyond its nutritional profile, Solein stands out due to its radically low environmental impact. Produced through a proprietary fermentation process that utilizes air, renewable electricity, and microbes, Solein eliminates the need for traditional agricultural inputs such as large-scale land use, irrigation, and livestock farming. This production method makes it independent of weather conditions, climate variability, and deforestation, addressing some of the key sustainability concerns associated with conventional protein sources.

“Solein excels in bringing exceptional nutritional value, great taste, and functionality, as well as the most sustainable source of protein the market has seen, setting a new standard for nutritional proteins in the future,” said Benítez-García. “We have entered a new era of protein.”

From a compositional standpoint, Solein boasts a dry-weight protein content of 78%, with a well-balanced profile of all essential amino acids. It also contains 10% total dietary fiber, 6% fats, and 2% carbohydrates, along with 4% essential minerals, including iron (1.1g/kg) and vitamin B12 (5µg/kg). This nutrient-dense composition makes it a compelling option for brands seeking to fortify products with high-quality protein while maintaining clean-label and sustainable credentials.