San Francisco

Mission Barns

© Mission Barns
Approvals

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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© Future Food-Tech
Fairs & Events

Future Food-Tech San Francisco 2025: 61 Startups to Showcase the Future of Food

The upcoming Future Food-Tech Summit, set to take place in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025, will feature 61 startups and scale-ups presenting innovations in food technology. The event, recognized as a hub for investment and collaboration, will address industry challenges such as sustainability, nutrition, and global food security. As part of the summit, Puratos has named three finalists—Future Biome, Postbiotics, and Solarea Bio—for its Gut Health Innovation Challenge. These companies will pitch their solutions on the main stage, with the winner announced at the event. According to Sara de Pelsmaeker, group health & well-being director at Puratos, “The selection was not easy, due to the high quality of all the submissions from across the globe!” Start-Up Arena: New talent in food tech The Start-Up …

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Beyond Meat

© Beyond Meat
Marketing & Media

Beyond Meat and NBPA Launch Plant-Based Cookbook Ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend

Beyond Meat has partnered with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to introduce Go Beyond the Buzzer: A Plant-Based Cookbook Inspired by NBPA Members. The digital cookbook, set for release on February 12, features plant-based recipes contributed by NBA players, which showcase their preferred meals before and after games. Players such as Cade Cunningham, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan have contributed recipes that incorporate Beyond Meat products, aiming to showcase plant-based eating within professional sports. Examples include Josh Hart’s “Beyond Hart Burrito” made with Beyond Steak, Damian Lillard’s vegan sloppy joe, and Jalen Brunson’s spicy rigatoni. The cookbook will be available for free online, with a limited number of hard copies distributed at select All-Star Weekend events. Beyond Meat at NBA All-Star Weekend Beyond Meat …

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Watermelon seed milk in a cold drink

© Força Foods
Products & Launches

Força Foods Launches the “World’s First” Watermelon Seed Milk

Força Foods, a food company based in San Francisco focused on sustainable ingredients and water conservation, has launched an innovative and exciting alternative to milk claimed as a world’s first: watermelon seed milk. Branded as MILKish and available in original and vanilla flavors, the product is free from soy, nuts, and sugar and contains only 50 calories per serving. Created with a base of watermelon seed and a touch of pea protein, the plant milk contains no carrageenan or artificial flavors or colors. According to Força Foods, its dairy-free alternative is smooth, creamy, and delicious and provides a healthy choice for consumers. Besides being healthy and appealing, MILKish promotes itself as a fun way to enjoy morning cereal, dairy-free baking, and drinks — from cold …

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San Francisco-based The EVERY Co. has been granted a new patent (US 12/096,784 ) covering the scope and use of its precision fermentation-derived ovalbumin.

© The Every Company
Company News

The EVERY Company Secures Patent for Fermented Ovalbumin — the Key Protein Behind its Animal-Free Ingredients

San Francisco-based The Every Company has been granted a new patent (US 12/096,784 ) covering the scope and use of its precision fermentation-derived ovalbumin. The scope of the patent includes wild-type ovalbumin variants with performance enhancements and extends to ovalbumin sourced from various avian species, produced using yeast and fungal strains like Pichia, Trichoderma, Saccharomyces, and Aspergillus. The patent covers the use of the novel protein in a wide range of food formulations if combined with at least one additional consumable ingredient (flour, sugar, fats). It spans diverse product formats, such as baked goods, meat, meat analogs, ready-to-eat egg products, whipped cream, ice cream, meringues, and more. It also addresses functional applications, including hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, chewiness, and foam stability in both liquid and powder forms. Co-founder …

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MeliBio honey close up

© MeliBio

Company News

MeliBio Secures Patent for Plant-Based Honey in Germany, Bee-Free Products to Reach More EU Consumers

San Francisco-based MeliBio announces it has secured a utility model registration for its “Plant-Based Honey Composition” from the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA). The registration protects the company’s novel method of replicating honey’s complexity using only plant-based ingredients, reinforcing “MeliBio’s pioneering role in advancing alternative honey production technologies that challenge the status quo of the traditional honey industry,” the startup said in the announcement. The company explains that ‘utility models’ in Germany offer quicker registration and immediate protection than conventional patents, ensuring MeliBio’s technology is safeguarded as it innovates. MeliBio states, “The registration is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the MeliBio team, empowering the company to explore further collaborations, expand product offerings, and increase its impact on the food tech …

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© MISTA
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

MISTA Growth Hack Selects Biomass Fermentation as Key Theme for 2024

A unique collaboration of 14 early-stage food tech startups, eight leading global food companies, and key partners, including Accenture, the Good Food Institute, and SOSV, will be part of the 2024 MISTA Growth Hack. MISTA, a food innovation platform, and a Givaudan entity, aims to bring new sustainable ingredients and technologies to life to feed the planet. This year’s Growth Hack aims to develop integrated, nutritious, affordable, and sustainable foods, beverages, and snacks by enhancing biomass fermentation. This technology grows nutrient-dense microbial cells that can improve the nutritional and sensory performance of foods and beverages. “The food system needs new solutions to feed the 8.5 billion people that will populate the Earth in 2030,” said Céline Schiff-Deb, CSO for MISTA. “Fermentation biomass is an approach …

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Nutrition from Water

© Nutrition from Water
Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

Nutrition from Water Develops Microalgae-Based Whey, Prepares for Market Introduction

New Zealand-based biotechnology startup Nutrition from Water (NXW), previously known as NewFish, has developed a microalgae-based whey for sports, wellness, advanced nutrition, and other categories such as baking and dairy-free confectionery. Branded as Marine Whey, the ingredient is said to offer an amino acid profile that rivals that of leading traditional animal proteins while surpassing plant-based proteins in digestibility. Described as allergen-free, vegan, and non-GMO, the protein ingredient is currently undergoing certification for self-attained GRAS. In addition, it has a neutral sensory profile, allowing for multiple applications, from nutritional foods and beverages to everyday meals and snacks, benefiting elite athletes and everyday consumers alike. The biotech plans to introduce Marine Whey to the global market within the next year, starting with the US and Japan. …

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New Wave PopcornShrimp

© New Wave Foods
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

US Plant-Based Shrimp Firm New Wave Foods Shuts Down Amidst Financial Woes

San Francisco-based New Wave Foods, a plant-based seafood company backed by Tyson Ventures, the venture capital arm of poultry giant Tyson Foods, ceased activities last November and is currently undergoing assignment for the benefit of creditors (a voluntary alternative to formal bankruptcy), as first reported by Alt Meat. According to a general assignment document, New Wave Foods faced financial difficulties and admitted its inability to repay its debts fully. Consequently, the company decided to halt its operations.  Plant-based shrimp for foodservice New Wave Foods manufactured plant-based shrimp for the food service industry. Michelle Wolf and Dominique Barnes established the company in 2015 to disrupt the $9 billion dollar shrimp market with an alternative made with sustainable seaweed and plant proteins. The company planned to develop a range …

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Cultivated Biosciences, a Swiss biotech startup creating fats from yeast fermentation, has presented its first proof-of-concept, a dairy-free coffee creamer.

© Cultivated Biociences
Fermentation

Cultivated Biosciences Crafts Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer Using Yeast-Based Fat

Cultivated Biosciences, a Swiss biotech startup creating fats from yeast fermentation, has developed its first proof-of-concept, a dairy-free coffee creamer. The innovative prototype, made with the biotech’s yeast-based fat, is said to match the performance of dairy creamers, challenging commercially available plant-based alternatives: it is white like milk and tastes just like a regular American commercial creamer. In addition, it blends without flaking (flocculation) despite not containing binders and additives, making it a clean-label product.  Tomas Turner, founder and CEO of Cultivated Biosciences, commented: “We are proud to show the industry the value of our ingredient in a convincing final product application, it marks the beginning of our path to commercialization.” Superior dairy-free fats Using yeasts and biomass fermentation, the biotech is developing functional fats with …

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IKEA new plant-based options

© IKEA
Food Service

IKEA San Francisco Debuts New Plant-Based Dining Options

Following the news that IKEA plans to launch the PLANT HOTDOG, along with its many other plant-based targets, the new San Francisco location is set to feature some exciting plant-based dining options. The three-story store, which opened today, is the first retailer to open as part of a development project from Ingka Centres. It will also serve as the flagship US location for two new dining options – Swedish Bite and Swedish Deli.  Swedish Bite, located on the store’s street level, will offer pre-packaged, refrigerated meals with a focus on sustainable and plant-based options, with items like plant-based lasagna and vegan cinnamon buns along with a variety of hot and cold drinks. IKEA currently only operates one other Swedish Bite store at the Shinjuku location …

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Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn

Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn ©UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: Reservations Now Open to Purchase Cultivated Meat in US For First Time

UPSIDE Foods announces the first reservations to try its historic cultivated chicken are now open to the public. On August 4, Bar Crenn in San Francisco will begin serving UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal, marking the first time members of the public can sign up to purchase cultivated meat in the US.  The announcement comes just weeks after UPSIDE completed the first consumer sale of its cultivated chicken, also at Bar Crenn, to several winners selected from a social media contest. UPSIDE’s first official public seating will take place on August 4 at 5:00 pm PT, when Chef Dominique Crenn will serve the startup’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal priced at $150.  During the dinner service, the chicken …

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Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn

Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn ©UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: Reservations Now Open to Purchase Cultivated Meat in US For First Time

UPSIDE Foods announces the first reservations to try its historic cultivated chicken are now open to the public. On August 4, Bar Crenn in San Francisco will begin serving UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal, marking the first time members of the public can sign up to purchase cultivated meat in the US.  The announcement comes just weeks after UPSIDE completed the first consumer sale of its cultivated chicken, also at Bar Crenn, to several winners selected from a social media contest. UPSIDE’s first official public seating will take place on August 4 at 5:00 pm PT, when Chef Dominique Crenn will serve the startup’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal priced at $150.  During the dinner service, the chicken …

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Crenn Cultivated Chicken Dish at Bar Crenn

©UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: First-Ever Sale of Cultivated Meat in US Takes Place Today

UPSIDE Foods announces its whole-cut, cell-cultivated chicken is launching at Chef Dominique Crenn’s acclaimed Bar Crenn restaurant on July 1st – in what UPSIDE believes is the first-ever consumer sale of cultivated meat in the US. The first customers will be several winners selected from a social media contest held by UPSIDE. The event follows a historic month for UPSIDE, which recently gained regulatory approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell its cell-cultivated chicken to chefs, restaurants, and consumers. UPSIDE’s chicken is also the first meat product Chef Crenn will offer on her menu since 2018 – when the Crenn Dining Group stopped serving conventional meat out of concern for its environmental impact.  The July 1st event will feature UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken fried …

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The EVERY Co.

©The Every Co.

Fermentation

The EVERY Co. Opens New State-of-the-Art HQ to Accelerate Global Transition to “Proteins of Tomorrow”

Food tech company The EVERY Co. announces it has moved into a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Daly City, California. Located at the GENESIS Station biotech hub, EVERY says the move will further position the company for growth and leadership as it accelerates the global transition to animal-free protein.  According to EVERY, the new 49,000 sq ft facility is an ideal environment for “creating the proteins of tomorrow” and occupies the top floor with naming rights at GENESIS Station—a biotech hub in the Greater San Francisco area. The company reports each business need was carefully considered during design to accommodate onsite R&D, recipe and application development, product demonstration and convening needs. The purpose-built facilities include a 60% lab space/40% office space split, custom-designed food lab and …

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Impact Food founders

© Impact Food

Interviews

Impact Food: “In the Next 5 years, Our Whole Cut Seafood Will Be Available Everywhere Around the World”

San Francisco-based Impact Food was formed in 2020 when entrepreneur Kelly Pan met biochemist Adrián Miranda and computer scientist Stephanie Claudino Daffara, and the three set out to combine their fields of expertise to help prevent the collapse of wild tuna species through a scalable food technology platform. Backed by Future Food Fund, Serpentine Ventures, Ahimsa Foundation, and others, Impact secured $500,000 in strategic angel & VC funding last August, and just this month debuted its plant-based, sushi-grade tuna at all three locations of Japanese chain Onigilly. We were excited to speak to Kelly Pan, Impact’s co-founder and CEO, who holds a degree from UC Berkeley-Haas Business School. What is the mission of Impact Food? At Impact Food, we are building the future of food. …

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world's first textbook on cultivated meat

© Cellular Agriculture Society (CAS)
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

US Cellular Agriculture Society Releases Comprehensive Textbook on Cultivated Meat

The Cellular Agriculture Society (CAS) has released Modern Meat, the world’s first textbook on cultivated meat.  “Modern Meat aims to pave the way for future courses on cultivated meat, serve as a guide to both newcomers & experts, and bolster cultivated meat’s growing academic sphere across the globe,” reads the textbook. The first edition of Modern Meat includes the work of over 100 authors ranging from academics to industry leaders, as well as diverse and important voices from the cultivated meat community in 18 countries. Advantages of cell ag Founded by Kristopher Gasteratos in San Francisco, CAS is an international nonprofit working to bring awareness around cellular agriculture and its potential to create animal products using cells instead of animals. With an unorthodox leadership structure, …

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Plant-Based Raw Tuna in Bowl

© Impact Foods/ Onigilly
Products & Launches

Impact Food Debuts Sushi-Grade, Raw Plant-Based Tuna at Onigilly Restaurants in San Francisco

Alt seafood startup Impact Food announces its plant-based, sushi-grade tuna will soon be available at all three locations of Onigilly, a Bay Area Japanese eatery. Starting March 15, Onigilly will be serving Impact’s whole-cut, raw tuna in their Onigilly Rice Balls and Poke Bowls. Following this soft launch, Impact says it plans to officially roll out its tuna product across the US in 2023.  In March, Onigilly restaurants in San Francisco, Palo Alto and San Mateo will debut Impact Tuna as a fifth protein option, alongside traditional tuna, salmon, shrimp and tofu. Made with nine ingredients, including pea protein, algae and vegetable juice, Impact Tuna is said to be high in Omega-3 fatty acids, low in calories and completely free from cholesterol and mercury.  “We’re …

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planetaria's plant ribs

© Planet Ribs
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Planetarians Raises $6M to Upscale Vegan Meat From Upcycled Ingredients

B2B plant-based foods company Planetarians has raised $6 million in a Seed II investment round to produce at a commercial scale its vegan meat blocks and supply the food service industry.  The food technology company has invested seven years in R&D to develop a sustainable, low cost alternative to meat made only from two upcycled ingredients: oil cakes and brewer’s yeast.  The raised funds will be used to build a pilot facility capable of producing tons of vegan blocks per year and move to a commercial production phase. Mindrock led the investment round, joined by Traction Fund, Techstars, SOSV, and AB InBev, the company behind some of the world’s largest beer brands and Planetarians brewers’ yeast supplier, committed to recycling barley and yeast from its brewing …

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Vitacoco X Alfred

© Vita Coco
Beverages

Vita Coco Barista MLK Launches Exclusively With Alfred Coffee in LA, SF & Austin

The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: COCO), a leading provider of healthy beverages and well-known for its popular coconut water product, has launched Vita Coco Barista MLK, exclusively with the LA-based Alfred Coffee chain. The uber-trendy Alfred Coffee also offers the PBBS, a Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich featuring Impossible Sausage, folded JUST Egg and Violife Cheddar on a vegan potato bun. The new Vita Coco barista mlk product is made from a blend of coconut water and coconut cream, is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GM. As part of the partnership, all Alfred Coffee locations across Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin will offer Vita Coco Barista MLK on its menus, and customers can add it to their beverages at no extra charge.   New Coconut Date …

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