Heura launches the world's first additive-free ham

Spanish vegan meat maker Heura has launched its additive-free ‘York-Style’ plant-powered ham. The company claims its product is a game-changer on the market thanks to its 64% protein density, low levels of total fat and saturated fat, with extra virgin olive oil, and no additives.

The new vegan ham slices follow WHO recommendations to reduce processed meat consumption. European countries such as Spain consume eight times more processed meat than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends.

The company believes this launch* “aligns with recommendations to reduce processed meat consumption by WHO and addresses concerns about the health implications of processed animal-origin meats”.*

“The new patent-pending technology applied in this product is here to redefine food processing and accelerate the plant-based protein transition,” said Marc Coloma, co-founder of Heura. “By focusing on high nutritional values with clean labels, we are not only creating an unprecedented competitive advantage but also offering a new level of animal meat successors, foods that are superior to their traditional meat counterparts.”

“The Heura slices are not an alternative to those of animal origin; they are their successors,” said Coloma. He added: “We are a foodtech, driven by innovation, and it is reflected in the result of our technology and specifically in the slices we present. It’s not just another reference in the industry; we assert that it marks a turning point. Our priority has always been to offer our consumers the experience of consuming animal-origin meat, in terms of taste and texture, while improving nutritional values, using high-quality ingredients, and, at the same time, protecting our planet. Good nutrition equals good health.”

The ‘York-Style’ vegan ham slices are the first product brought to the market using unique technology developed by Heura. It uses a thermomechanical processing technique to create “first-to-market plant-based products with superior sensory, significantly improved nutritional values” with a short list of ingredients such as protein, water and oil to structure a product while imparting texture and sensory to existing technologies, without the need of additives.

Heura’s vegan meat products are popular in the UK. In previous years, the brand launched vegan chicken pieces and nuggets, vegan chorizo sausages and burgers.