Barnana launches upcycled Organic Plantain Scoops

Plantain snack brand Barnana, based in the US, has announced the national retail launch of its first Upcycled Certified product – Organic Plantain Scoops.

The product, which is made using peel from upcycled plantains to minimise waste, is rolling out at select Whole Foods Market stores across the country.

Barnana’s Organic Plantain Scoops have 4g of fibre per serving. The brand’s Himalayan Pink Salt flavour features three simple ingredients: USDA-certified organic green plantains, organic coconut oil and Himalayan pink salt.

The plantain chips are Upcycled Certified by the Upcycled Food Association. They are made with reused organic plantains that would otherwise be wasted, along with their peels.

According to Barnana, each pack rescues 1.5 plantain peels from the landfill. The company said it is on track to upcycle nearly 45 million plantains by year-end since launching its Organic Ridged Plantain Chips in 2017. The brand also launched an organic plantain crisp product in 2021.

Barnana PBC founder Caue Suplicy commented: “We have a ten-year track record of upcycling bananas and plantains, but the success of our organic plantain chip line created a paradox: as sales grew, we were saving more plantains from becoming food waste, but also generating a growing amount of peel byproduct”.

Suplicy said that doing the right thing for the planet and for farmers has helped the company “create win-win products.” He added: “Our savoury Plantain Scoops are no exception. Using the peel adds a boost of fiber for health-conscious snackers and creates a distinctive scoop-shaped chip naturally when it’s cooked.”