lentil protein concentrate

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Lentil protein concentrate (LPC) is a processed ingredient derived from lentils (Lens culinaris) or aquatic water lentils (Lemna spp./duckweed) by wet extraction and separation of the protein fraction from fibres, followed by drying; it consists mainly of protein, fibre, fat, and ash. It is used as a plant-based protein source in food products, protein supplements, and meat analogue applications.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Conventional lentil (Lens culinaris) protein concentrate is broadly regarded as safe with no established ADI; no significant genotoxicity, heavy metal, mycotoxin, or allergenicity concerns have been identified in the scientific literature. For the water lentil (Lemna spp.) form, EFSA (2023) concluded it is safe under proposed conditions of use, with no genotoxicity concerns and low allergenic potential. Anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors, tannins, and calcium oxalate are present at relatively low concentrations after processing and are not considered a safety concern at typical intake levels.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Lentils (masoor) and lentil-derived protein concentrates are recognised as conventional plant protein food ingredients under FSSAI regulations. No specific restriction or maximum level established for Lens culinaris LPC. Water lentil (Lemna spp.) forms are not specifically addressed under current FSSAI regulations.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Conventional lentil protein concentrate from Lens culinaris is used as a standard food ingredient (whole-food derived); no specific GRAS notice or food additive petition found, as it is treated as a conventional food protein ingredient. No maximum use levels are federally mandated.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Under_review	Water lentil protein concentrate (Lemna gibba/Lemna minor) assessed as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283; EFSA NDA Panel opinion published April 2023 concluded the NF is safe under proposed conditions of use. Authorisation by the European Commission pending. Conventional Lens culinaris LPC is not regulated as a food additive (no E number) and is used as a standard food ingredient.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Ibs — Lentil protein concentrates may retain residual FODMAPs (fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides) depending on processing, which can trigger symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Ibd — High dietary fibre and residual anti-nutritional factors in lentil protein concentrates may exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with active inflammatory bowel disease.

Kidney Disease — Lentil protein concentrate is a high-protein ingredient; individuals with chronic kidney disease requiring protein restriction should consult a doctor before use.

Gout — Lentils contain purines, and concentrated lentil protein may contribute to elevated uric acid levels in individuals predisposed to gout.

Infants — Water lentil protein concentrate (Lemna spp.) is authorised for the general population as a food ingredient but is intended exclusively for adults when used as a food supplement, per the EFSA 2023 opinion; use in infants has not been evaluated.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1other. Water lentil protein concentrate from a mixture of Lemna gibba and Lemna minor — Summary of novel food application (EU 2015/2283). food.ec.europa.eu
2PubMed. Processing parameters, techno-functional properties and potential food application of lentil protein concentrate as an ingredient for the plant-based market, 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3EFSA. Safety of water lentil protein concentrate from a mixture of Lemna gibba and Lemna minor as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2023. efsa.europa.eu
4PubMed. Safety of water lentil protein concentrate from a mixture of Lemna gibba and Lemna minor as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of lentil (Lens culinaris) protein isolates prepared by pilot-scale processing, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations