Mung Bean Protein Concentrate

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Mung bean protein concentrate is a plant-derived protein ingredient extracted and concentrated from the seeds of Vigna radiata (mung bean), a legume of the family Fabaceae. It is used as a high-protein food ingredient — typically ≥84% protein by dry weight — in protein products, meat analogues, and functional foods as a sustainable, plant-based alternative to animal proteins.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Mung bean protein is broadly considered safe for the general adult population, with GRAS status in the US and novel food authorisation in the EU; no ADI has been established. Antinutritional factors such as lectins, phytic acid, and tannins are present at elevated levels in the concentrate compared to whole mung bean flour, which may impair mineral absorption and digestibility at very high intakes. Cross-reactive allergenicity with soybean, lupin, and peanut allergens (via Vig r 2 and Vig r 4 proteins) has been identified, and the ingredient is not authorised for use in infant formula.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, listed in the Union catalogue (Regulation (EU) 2017/2470). Permitted use is as a food ingredient in 'protein products, excluding products covered in category 1.8 (dairy analogues, including beverage whiteners)'. Not permitted in infant formula or follow-on formula. Maximum estimated intake: 758 mg/kg bw/day in children and 260 mg/kg bw/day in adults.source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom)	Approved	Assessed under the UK novel food framework (assimilated Regulation (EU) 2017/2470) by the FSA and FSS. Authorised for use in protein products (excluding dairy analogues, including beverage whiteners). Not intended for use in infant formulae and follow-on formulae.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	GRAS Notice No. GRN 684 submitted by Hampton Creek, Inc. (now Eat Just, Inc.) under 21 CFR Part 170; mung bean protein isolate affirmed as Generally Recognized As Safe under the intended conditions of use.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — Explicitly excluded from infant formula and follow-on formula in both EU (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 authorisation) and UK (FSA/FSS RP32 assessment), as safety in this population has not been established.

Nut Allergy — Mung bean allergens Vig r 2 and Vig r 4 share 50–51% sequence homology with peanut allergen Ara h 1 and have potential for IgE cross-reactivity in peanut-sensitised individuals, as identified in the FSA/FSS safety assessment.

Other — Individuals with soy or lupin allergies should exercise caution due to 66–69% and 54–57% sequence homology, respectively, between mung bean allergens (Vig r 2/Vig r 4) and cognate soybean and lupin allergens, indicating potential cross-reactivity.

Ibs — The concentrate retains elevated levels of anti-nutritional factors (lectins, phytic acid, tannins) compared to whole mung bean flour, which may exacerbate digestive discomfort in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.

Kidney Disease — As a high-protein concentrate (≥84% protein), large intakes may increase the dietary protein load, which warrants medical guidance for individuals with chronic kidney disease who require protein restriction.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. A comprehensive overview of three novel plant proteins approved by EFSA: alfalfa protein concentrate, rapeseed and mung bean protein isolates, 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2other. Safety Assessment of Mung Bean Protein as a Novel Food for Use in Food (RP32), 2025. science.food.gov.uk
3EFSA. Safety of mung bean protein as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2021. efsa.europa.eu
4PubMed. Safety of mung bean protein as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5FDA. GRAS Notice 684 – Mung Bean Protein Isolate, 2017. fda.gov
6PubMed. Vig r 6, the cytokinin-specific binding protein from mung bean (Vigna radiata) sprouts, cross-reacts with Bet v 1-related allergens, 2013. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched6 citations