Approvals

Simpliigood spirulina smoked salmon

© Simpliigood

Simpliigood’s Spirulina-Based Smoked Salmon Approaches Commercialization Following $4M Grant & EU Regulatory Clearance

Simpliigood, a producer of microalgae-based protein products founded by AlgaeCore, has announced that its plant-based smoked salmon alternative is advancing toward commercial production. Texturized fresh spirulina, a key ingredient in the product, has just gained regulatory clearance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as a non-novel ingredient. Meanwhile, Simpliigood has secured a $4 million grant from the Israel Innovation Authority, and pilots are underway in Europe and Israel. With the launch of a full-scale industrial manufacturing line, Simpliigood has transitioned to commercial output of its texturized fresh spirulina, branded as Simplii Texture. This will allow the company to produce hundreds of tons of the ingredient per year, meeting the anticipated demand for its smoked salmon alternative. A kilogram of Simplii Texture can be transformed …

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Vow cultivated quail foie gras

© Vow

Vow’s Cultivated Quail Receives Approval From Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Australian cultivated meat company Vow is one step closer to launching cultivated quail in its home country after the product received approval from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ completed a first round of statutory public consultation regarding the cultivated quail in February 2024, receiving 40 submissions and one late comment. After considering the feedback and reviewing the evidence, FSANZ undertook a second round of statutory public consultation between November 12 2024 and January 12 2025. The organization sought submissions on two new draft standards, one new draft schedule, and draft consequential variations to other provisions of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. 22 submissions were received. FSANZ approved the draft standards, schedule, and other variations with some amendments on March 26, before …

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Mission Barns

© Mission Barns

Mission Barns Receives FDA Approval for Cultivated Pork Fat, Announces Restaurant & Retail Launches

Cultivated meat company Mission Barns has received a “No Questions” letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is said to make the company the first in the world to receive regulatory clearance for cultivated pork fat. The letter indicates that the FDA has completed a rigorous evaluation of Mission Barns’ safety assessment for its cultivated fat, and is satisfied that the product is “as safe as comparable foods”. Following the regulatory approval, Mission Barns has announced that Fiorella, a leading Italian restaurant group in the San Francisco area, will begin using the company’s cultivated bacon and meatballs. Sprouts Farmers Market will also stock Mission Barns’ products, becoming the first US grocery store to sell cultivated meat. The two chains will reportedly be …

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Wide Open Agriculture lupin protein

© Wide Open Agriculture

Wide Open Agriculture’s Lupin Protein Isolate Gains Chinese Market Approval

Australian regenerative food and agriculture company Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) has announced that its lupin protein isolate has received General Administration approval to export to the Chinese market. The application was reportedly supported by a local distributor who believes there is significant potential for lupin protein in the country. The protein isolate has several proven commercial applications, including protein powders, plant-based milks, yogurts, and ice creams. WOA initially plans to sell into the Chinese protein powder and dairy alternative sectors, and will also market a tofu alternative made with lupins instead of soy. While soy protein currently dominates the Chinese market, some consumers are concerned about GMO soybeans, and this is increasing the demand for other sustainable protein sources. WOA’s lupin protein is non-GMO and …

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Fermify

© Fermify

Fermify Becomes First to Submit Regulatory Dossier for Animal-Free Casein in Singapore

Vienna-based precision fermentation company Fermify has submitted a regulatory dossier for its animal-free casein to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). The submission represents a step toward commercializing its dairy protein alternative in the Asian market. The company, which focuses on sustainable dairy production without the use of animals, previously submitted its casein dossier to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2024, where it achieved self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. Fermify’s casein, produced through precision fermentation, is designed to replicate the functional properties of traditional dairy proteins, enabling the production of cheese that melts and stretches without requiring milk from cows. The company emphasizes its product as a solution to the environmental and ethical concerns associated with conventional dairy. Eva Sommer, …

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© Mosa Meat

Mosa Meat Files for Novel Food Approval in Switzerland

Just weeks after filing the EU’s first cultivated beef dossier, Mosa Meat has taken a similar step in Switzerland, seeking novel food approval with backing from Bell Switzerland. This application specifically covers cultivated fat, an ingredient designed to enhance plant-based products by adding rich, authentic beef flavor to items such as burgers and meatballs. The Dutch company states that cultivated fat can enhance plant-based foods by improving taste and texture. “Thousands of hours of work by our employees and analyses by six independent laboratories have gone into this dossier, and we have the utmost confidence that Swiss regulators will find our product exceeds the robust safety standards of their novel foods law,” said Maarten Bosch, CEO of Mosa Meat. Mosa Meat sees cultivated fat as …

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Solar Foods

© Solar Foods

Solar Foods Edges Closer to Regulatory Approval for Air-Based Protein in the EU

Finland’s Solar Foods is moving closer to regulatory approval in the EU after addressing inquiries from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regarding the safety of its air-based protein, Solein. The company submitted its novel food application back in 2021, providing a detailed dossier containing manufacturing data, product information, and supporting scientific evidence. Solein is currently undergoing a comprehensive application process to ensure it is safe for consumption, not misleadingly labeled, and nutritionally suitable for its intended use. Solar Foods reports it has made significant progress in the EFSA application process, recently responding to inquiries based on data obtained from Solein produced at the company’s Factory 01 (reportedly the world’s first commercial air-based protein facility). Solar Foods is now awaiting a final scientific opinion, and …

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Duckweed/water lentils approved for consumption in the EU

© WUR

Duckweed Becomes Officially Approved as a Food Product Within the EU

Duckweed, a sustainably cultivated plant also known as water lentils, has been officially approved for consumption within the EU by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Water lentils are widely consumed in some Asian countries, but have not yet become a food staple in the West. However, this may be about to change, thanks in large part to the work of Ingrid van der Meer of Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. Van der Meer, a senior researcher and head of the Bioscience department at Wageningen Plant Research, first became interested in water lentils ten years ago. She was struck by the sustainability of their production; the plants can produce over six times as much protein per hectare as soy and each one divides …

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mother feeding baby

© Odua Images - stock.adobe.com

EFSA Says Schizochytrium Limacinum Microalgae Oil Can Be Safely Used in Infant Formula

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that oil derived from the microalgae Schizochytrium limacinum (strain ATCC-20889) is safe for use in infant and follow-on formulas at DHA concentrations of 20–50 milligrams per 100 kilocalories. Infant formulas in the EU are required to contain DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid important for brain and retinal development. The microalgae oil could provide an alternative to fish-based DHA for vegetarian and vegan consumers or those with allergies. It could also help to address sustainability issues such as overfishing. Demand for plant-based baby and infant foods is rising significantly — a report from 2022 found that vegan and organic products were a key driver of the infant nutrition market, while an analysis published last year predicted that sales …

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© RSSL

RSSL Establishes “UK’s First” Novel Foods Expert Network in Collaboration With ICL & The Supplant Company

Food and life science contract research organisation RSSL has announced that it will establish what is said to be the UK’s first Novel Foods Expert Network for Regulatory Challenges (NFX UK). To establish the network, RSSL has secured funding from the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK. NFX UK will be developed in partnership with Imperial College London and The Supplant Company, with three primary objectives: Act as a central hub for learning resources — The network will collate and develop central resources, providing industry with access to regulatory science tools. This will give companies a clearer understanding of regulatory processes, data requirements, risk, and safety assessments for novel food ingredients. Promote connections for novel foods innovators — NFX UK will enable collaborations between organisations …

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Whole pizza in close up with New Culture cheese melt

© New Culture

New Culture Submits Animal-Free Mozzarella Product Label to California Department of Food and Agriculture

Animal-free dairy producer New Culture has submitted the product label and registration for its mozzarella to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). It is believed to be the first time a label for a product made with animal-free casein has been submitted to the department for review. Produced using precision fermentation, New Culture’s casein enables animal-free cheeses to melt, stretch, bubble, and brown. Traditional cheesemaking techniques are used to turn the casein into mozzarella, with the addition of ingredients such as water, sunflower oil, coconut oil, salt, sugar, starch, and fortifying minerals. The resulting product is claimed to provide the same taste and texture as mozzarella with a much lower environmental impact. Its nutritional profile is said to be similar to conventional mozzarella, …

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Mosa Meat

© Mosa Meat

Mosa Meat Requests First EU Market Authorisation for Cultivated Fat

Netherlands-based cultivated beef producer Mosa Meat has submitted its first request for Novel Foods market approval in the EU, seeking authorisation for its cultivated fat ingredient. The fat is designed to be blended with plant-based ingredients to create beef-style products such as hamburgers, meatballs, and bolognese. Following the regulatory submission, the cultivated fat will be evaluated by The European Commission (EC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The submission is an important step towards introducing cultivated meat products to the European market; EU laws do not allow cultivated products to be assessed as a whole, but instead require cultivated ingredients to be submitted individually. This is only the second time a cultivated product has entered the EU’s Novel Foods process — the first was …

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The EVERY Company macaroons

© The EVERY Company

European Union Approves Patent for EVERY’s Precision-Fermented Egg White Protein

The EVERY Company (EVERY), a biotech firm specializing in fermentation-based protein ingredients, has been awarded a European Union patent for its recombinant ovalbumin product. This development extends EVERY’s intellectual property (IP) portfolio into a significant new market, complementing its existing patents in the United States, Finland, Germany, Denmark, and Great Britain. The European patent, numbered 4017287, protects an ingredient composition containing recombinant ovalbumin for use in food products. Recombinant ovalbumin, a protein that mimics the primary functional protein found in egg whites, plays a critical role in food applications due to its foaming, binding, gelling, and nutritive properties. Arturo Elizondo, EVERY’s co-founder and CEO, stated, “Having our technology and product recognized as novel by the patent offices in both the US and European Union, two …

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cultivated quail

© Vow

Public Consultation Seeks Feedback on Potential Approval of Cultivated Quail in Australia

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has opened a second round of public consultation regarding the regulatory approval of cultivated quail as a food. The application has been submitted by Australian cultivated meat company Vow, which hopes to use cultivated quail cells in conjunction with other ingredients to make products such as logs, rolls, and patties. FSANZ previously concluded last year that cultivated quail is safe to eat, following a comprehensive scientific assessment. The first round of public consultation began in December 2023, with FSANZ proposing several labelling requirements for cultivated products to avoid consumer confusion. After considering the evidence and submissions, the originally suggested approach has been modified; rather than approving cultured quail cells as a novel food, a standards-based approach will be used, …

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Dr Hannah Lester

Image courtesy Dr Hannah Lester

Regulating Novel Food & Cultivated Meat: Insights from Expert Hannah Lester

As cultivated meat edges closer to widespread acceptance, the regulatory landscape remains a formidable hurdle. Atova Consulting’s Hannah Lester, a seasoned expert in novel food regulation, offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing this burgeoning industry. Speaking with Alex Crisp on the Future of Foods Interviews podcast, Lester outlined the intricacies of regulatory processes across the globe, shared her insights on working with agencies like EFSA and the FDA, and discussed how political shifts—particularly in the United States—could reshape the future of food technology. The evolving regulatory landscape: Europe’s challenges and opportunities For companies like those Lester represents, Europe presents a double-edged sword: rigorous scientific evaluation paired with political complexity. While the European Commission has clarified that cultivated meat falls under novel …

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EFSA logo

© EFSA

Novel Food Applications in Europe: What do the Updated EFSA Guidelines Mean for Safety Assessments?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated the guidelines for applications for novel foods in the EU. The updates include both scientific and administrative guidance that will apply to all new novel food applications from February 2025. The pre-announced changes to the framework are intended to ensure that the safety assessment of novel foods keeps pace with current developments in food research and legal requirements. Not only will the latest scientific findings be taken into account, but the experience gained from the previous evaluation of applications will also be used to create clarity and improve the quality of applications. The aim is to establish a more efficient procedure that continues to prioritise consumer safety. The following Q&A with Ermolaos Ververis, scientific officer in EFSA’s …

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cultivated foie gras

© Gourmey

Gourmey Becomes First Company to Apply to Sell Cultivated Meat in the EU

Gourmey, a French startup producing cultivated foie gras, has become the first company to apply for regulatory approval to sell cultivated meat in the European Union. The startup has also submitted applications in Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Before it goes on the market, the cultivated foie gras will need to be approved by the European Commission. Authorisation will be governed by the Novel Foods Regulation, said to be one of the most robust food safety frameworks in the world. The process is likely to take at least 18 months, and will include a thorough assessment of the safety and nutritional value of cultivated meat. The potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of the product will also be considered, with input from member …

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