Food supplement from vegetable pulp and method of preparing same

A process for producing a bland food supplement from water-extracted, vegetable pulp selected from the group consisting of the water-extracted pulps of sugar beets, apples, citrus peels, corn, beans, peas, and turnips, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting the water-extracted pulp with an aqueous bleaching solution comprising a bleaching agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, an alkali metal peroxide, ammonium persulfate, sulfur dioxide, sodium hydrosulfite, sodium chlorite, sodium hypochlorite, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and combinations thereof,
• (b) separating the bleached pulp from the bleaching solution, and
• (c) drying the bleached pulp to obtain a stable, free-flowing, bland food supplement having a composition by weight of about 4% to 8% water, about 7% to 9% crude protein, about 15% to 25% crude fiber, about 60% to 70% nitrogen-free extracts, and about 2.5% to 5% ash, wherein said food supplement can be used as a filler, extender, or protein binder in a variety of food products.