Danish Researchers: Pig Blood as Source of Protein for Human Food

Danish researchers are turning pig blood into a source of protein in powder form as a food additive. While it may not sound too appetizing, the team from the University of Copenhagen believes that it could be a sustainable source of protein for people.

At the moment, the production of pork meat in Denmark produces 60,000 tons of leftover blood, a good part of which is sold in the international animal feed market. Thanks to its high nutritional value, with 90% protein, the researchers say that the blood could instead be used as a supplement to a wide range of food.

The protein powder that the team has produced is white and of neutral flavor, so it wouldn't change the taste of the product it is added to. A total of 5,000 tons of pure protein powder can be extracted from 60,000 tons of blood through a method that uses the papaya fruit. Papaya has an enzyme that can extract proteins from blood, while at the same time extracting the iron, which could then be used in diet supplements.

– We are increasing the sustainability of the production by using pig blood as a source of protein for human food. It is likely that more and more people in the future will be meeting their needs for proteins through alternative sources of food, due to the emission of CO2 and the lack of food – explains Rene Lametsch, associate professor and lead researcher.

Lametsch claims that the protein powder could be used in many foods and drinks, for example, by being stirred into juices, ice creams or mixed into chocolate bars. It could even be used to aid the elderly to get enough nutritive ingredients when going to a hospital or a care home, he says.

Still, it doesn't seem like this kind of protein will be available for sale soon. At the moment, the Danish team needs more investments to carry out its plans, which they claim have the potential to reduce the production of meat and help the environment.

– A brave industrial investor must be ready to test this with the consumers – Lametsch says.

– Protein from pig blood has the same challenge before it as insects. People are willing to try and they consider it exciting, but it takes time to get used to it.

He hints that China might be interested, because the country is already the main exporting market for Danish pork.

Rene Lametch

Danish researchers

pig blood

powdered pig blood

protein from pig blood