LEAWOOD, KANSAS, U.S. — Firebird Artisan Mills is launching a new crisp product line targeted at improving the nutritional value and product performance of a wide variety of snacks, bars and baked foods. The first Firebird Artisan Crisp is the Suntava Purple Corn 50% Protein Crisp.

Firebird created the crisp by working to combine 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.

“Products that visually demonstrate differentiation resonate with buyers,” said Mike Hallman, vice-president of sales. “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.”

Firebird Artisan Mills said purple corn is rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols, which, 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, vice-president of marketing and sustainability.

Firebird Artisan Mills is a full-service gluten-free ingredient supplier to the food industry. Firebird Artisan Mills operates a gluten-free facility in Harvey, North Dakota, U.S., and holds a number of certifications, including International Certification Services Gluten-Free and USDA National Organic Program, US-Canada Organic compliant, British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Blue Ribbon Kosher. Firebird mills, mixes, blends and retail packages a wide variety of gluten-free ingredients and consumer packaged goods.