Falafun Croquette is Health-conscious Choice

Is there such a thing as healthy croquettes? Yes there is – now that Paul Brugmans has launched his Falafun fibre croquette! Brugmans is a born entrepreneur who became known as the falafel take-out vendor who won over the snack-eating Dutch public with his chickpea balls and kebabs. Brugmans had more ideas up his sleeve, and a growing demand for healthy vegetarian products inspired him to develop a snack so healthy it would earn an IKB label – a Dutch label given to products that represent a health-conscious choice within a certain product category. But where was Brugmans to start? Through the Food Valley Innovation Link, he got in touch with TNO specialists who could find out what criteria his healthy croquette would have to meet.

TNO Research and Advice
It’s not easy for a fried snack with a greasy, unhealthy image to attain an IKB label. Such products have to meet strict criteria. Specialists at TNO Quality of Life, in Zeist, found out what criteria Brugmans’s croquette would have to meet for fibre, fat and salt content. In practice, he only needed to make small adjustments to the portion size and amount of salt used. On TNO’s advice, Brugmans patented his fibre croquette. Now, every package of Falafun croquettes boasts the IKB label.

Cooperation Whets Appetite
Brugmans has other innovations in store for the food and snacks market. He wants to make a name for himself, in the Netherlands and internationally, with a range of healthy meals and snacks. Developing the health-conscious croquette was a taste of success, but now he wants more. Whether he aims to develop healthy vegetarian snacks, long-life products or refrigerated foods, Brugmans knows the Food Valley Innovation Link can put him in touch with the partners he needs.