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From:	Bryanna (NewVeggies.vegsource.com)
Subject:	Re: textured vegetable protein
Date:	January 27, 2009 at 10:35 pm PST

In Reply to: textured vegetable protein posted by helene on January 27, 2009 at 12:28 pm:

I have no problem with it, as part of a varied diet
using lots of beans, vegetables, fruits, nut,
seeds, etc.

Textured vegetable protein (TVP®, BTW, is the same
thing, but it is a registered brand name, and is
also the same thing as "textured vegetable protein"
or TSP) is a low-fat, inexpensive dry product, used
as a meat substitute. It is NOT the same thing as
"hydrolized plant protein" or "soy isolate", and
contains no MSG or other additives. It is made
from de-fatted soy flour, cooked with water under
pressure, then extruded through machinery to make
granules, chunks, cutlets, etc.; then dehydrated.

It has the advantage of being chewier and lower in
fat than tofu, and can take the place of frozen
tofu in many recipes. Even if you object to the
use of meat alternates on a regular basis, it makes
a great transitional food for people who are
accustomed to eating meat and, despite the best of
motives and intentions, miss those familiar flavors
and, especially, textures. I have had great
success in serving textured vegetable protein
dishes to non-vegetarians.

Organic and/or solvent-free textured soy protein is
available.

From Bob's Red Mill (they call it "TSP") http://www.bobsredmill.com/product.php?
productid=3462&cat=0&page=1

Frontier Co-op has unflavored organic textured soy
protein in three different sizes.
http://www.frontiercoop.com/dspCmnPrd.php?
p=p&cn=Soy%20Textured%20Protein&ct=dfmsf

And from healthy-eating.com:
"These textured soy protein bits are made with
organic soybeans, using a manufacturing process
certified by the Organic Growers and Buyers
Association...Because there are no chemicals used
to grow or process the soybeans used in this
organic product, please expect variations in size
and color from one order to the next."
http://healthy-eating.com/texturedsoy.html#organic

I also like a product called Soy Curls®, which is
like stir-fry slices. It is made from the WHOLE
soybean (non-GMO). It is very tender and great for
stir-fries, etc. Since it contains the natural oil,
I keep this dried product in the freezer. Soy
Curls® are solvent-free, and I use the crumbs on
the bottom of the box sort of like TVP granules.
butlerfoods.com

As for commercial textured soy protein products,
Nexsoy makes a commercial organic textured soy
protein that manufacturers use for organic meat
substitutes.
http://www.nexcelfoods.com/tsp.html
Here is what they say about their product:
"The unique Nexsoy® process is totally solvent-
free, yielding a product line that is free of the
"soy" taste that some consumers find unpalatable,
leaving you free to work on developing your flavor,
not masking agents. Traditionally, most soy
ingredients are produced using a chemical solvent
called hexane. This method is believed to be
responsible for the "grassy" or "beany" flavor that
has historically slowed the acceptance soyfoods.
The Nexsoy® processing method is entirely
mechanical and requires no chemicals such as
hexane. This process is responsible for very
neutral-tasting naturally-produced soy ingredients
that can be used by food manufacturers without
negatively impacting the flavor of their product."

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