Leawood, KS — Firebird Artisan Mills, a leader in gluten-free ingredients, has launched an innovative new crisp product line targeted at improving the nutritional value and product performance of a wide variety of snacks, bars and baked goods.  The first Firebird Artisan Crisp is the Suntava Purple Corn™ 50% Protein Crisp now available from the company and its sales channels.

Firebird created the crisp by seeking to marry the nutritional benefits of an ancient grain with the attractive aspects of a vegetable-based protein.  By combining Suntava Purple Corn from Healthy Food Ingredients with a plant-based protein, the crisp represents opportunity for a wide range of gluten-free or conventional product applications. The new Suntava Purple Corn 50% Protein Crisp offers a variety of potential on-package claims along with an appealing, resilient crunch and natural purple color.

“Products that visually demonstrate differentiation resonate with buyers,” said Vice President of Sales Mike Hallman.  “The eye-catching, unique purple color of our crisp generates immediate association with the health benefits of natural antioxidants not present in common well-established ingredients such as corn, rice or tapioca starches,” stated Hallman.

“Suntava Purple Corn is a superfood with many health benefits. We are pleased to support Firebird Artisan Mills’ new crisp with the utilization of Suntava Purple Corn in another innovative application,” notes Terry Howell, Suntava Purple Corn ingredient expert at Healthy Food Ingredients.

Purple corn is rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols that, according to published research, have a unique ability to enhance overall health and well-being. In addition, the fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals found in the crisp combine to nutritionally enhance products such as snacks, cereals, protein/snack bars and more while remaining gluten and top-eight allergen-free.

“We are at work developing several other crisp ingredients that, along with the Suntava Purple Corn 50% Protein Crisp, will provide customers options with protein/nutrition bars, cereals, clusters, granola and other snack applications while delivering a clean taste,” said Bradford Warner, VP of Marketing and Sustainability.

The Suntava Purple Corn 50% Protein Crisp is available from Healthy Food Ingredients.