Many alternatives to animal-derived gelatine used in gummy confectionery, marshmallows or ice cream already exist, although none is a perfect replacement. Now, rising interest in vegetarian ingredients has increased interest in animal-free alternatives and led to a new wave of innovation in the sector. US-based ingredients company Puris, for example, has introduced an alternative to gelatine as well as pectin for gummies which is based on pea starch. It recently partnered with Cargill to ramp up production of its core pea protein ingredient, and the starch is a by-product of this process. While other starches may mute flavours, the company says its new ingredient has flavour enhancing properties, which could be of interest for manufacturers of gummies, for both confectionery and supplements.