Unlocking juiciness in meat alternatives with lecithin

Texture plays a critical role in consumer choice when it comes to plant-based alternatives. However, 45% of European consumers believe that the texture of meat alternatives could be improved.*

A new role for lecithin in water and oil retention

One of the key challenges in meat alternative burgers is delivering the juicy bite consumers expect. While lecithin is a familiar emulsifier in food formulations offering a label-friendly advantage, Cargill experts discovered a patent pending novel way to use it – not as an emulsifier, but as an ingredient that helps to retain water and oil from leaking out during the final cooking step.

During cooking, burger patties typically lose water and oil from the emulsion out of the formulation, reducing both cooking yield, juiciness, and taste. By introducing lecithin, we found it helps to retain moisture, improve juiciness and increase final product yield by up to 10%. This approach doesn’t replace any existing ingredient – it simply enhances performance in a new way.

Lecithin: Much more than stabilizing emulsions alone

Traditionally, lecithin’s role has been limited to stabilizing emulsions. But our application experts asked: what if lecithin could do more? By using it about 1% of the total formulation, this solution contributes to support moisture and oil retention, along with enhanced texture – especially during the cooking step.

If lecithin is already part of your formulation as an emulsifier, using it in this novel way to boost juiciness would not require including an additional ingredient on your label – a win for label-friendly strategies.

A wealth of potential applications

Beyond burgers, we’re exploring applications in plant-based sausages, meatballs, minced meat, and hybrid products.

We’ve also tested lecithin in conventional beef burgers, where it delivered impressive results – especially in well-done burger patties, enhancing juiciness and bringing more meaty, umami & salty flavor.

Book your expert session!

Let’s explore together the opportunities and new use for lecithin, contact us today via the form below to arrange a meeting, or reach out to your Cargill account manager!

With our deep formulation expertise and collaborative mindset, we’re excited to share:

• Cargill’s proprietary ingredient insights and the untapped potential of lecithin.
• Sensory and consumer insights shaping the future of burgers.
• Our co-creation model to help you tailor solutions to your specific needs.

*FMCG Gurus 2025