Europe

Microalgae based caviar

© GreenCoLab
Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

GreenCoLab Unveils Innovative Microalgae and Seaweed-Based Caviar, Burgers, and Beer

GreenCoLab, a Portuguese non-profit biotech that leverages microalgae and seaweed to create nutraceutical and F&B products, has unveiled three prototypes that will debut at Vitafoods Europe.Vitafoods Europe 2024 The company’s developments include a microalgae-based alternative to sturgeon roe, microalgae artisanal beer, and algae-based burgers. The prototypes feature non-GMO chlorella, tetraselmis, and seaweed, to showcase algae as a sustainable vegan ingredient that can improve the nutritional, functional, and sensory qualities of products. GreenCoLAB is a collaborative platform between research institutions and industry partners such as Centro de Ciências do Mar and the University of Aveiro, along with four Portuguese companies experienced in algae biotechnology. The non-profit aims to promote economic growth and innovation in the algae biotechnology sector by investing in larger-scale production and diversifying commercial algae-based products. According to GreenCoLab, …

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Crave Culture

© Crave Culture
Gastronomy & Food Service

Crave Culture: Strategic Plant-Based Culinary Advice for Hospitality Pioneers

Crave Culture is a Netherlands-based company that aims to help food service providers improve their plant-based offerings. Culinary advisors Thomas Bosson & Oana Puiu help cafes, caterers, restaurants, and more to attract and retain new customers by offering more and better plant-based dishes. Drawing on their backgrounds in hospitality and food tech, they support clients who are short on time or expertise in redesigning their menus, taking into account current trends. The comprehensive process features six steps: Exploration and planning Concept and pitch Development and testing Feedback and adjustments Recipe writing and training Roll out and support. More advanced packages are also available, featuring additional services such as professional food styling, high-resolution photographs, and training (either on location or remotely). “In a world where misconceptions …

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© Sinless Food
Egg Alternatives

“We’ve Cracked It”: Sinless Food Offers Vegan Fried, Poached and Hard-Boiled Eggs

Sinless Food is a new business based in the North of England that produces innovative handmade alternatives to eggs. The company’s range includes: Vegan Fried Eggs — A frozen ready-to-cook mix in six individual pots, which produces a plant-based alternative to fried eggs when cooked. Vegan Poached Eggs — Another frozen ready-to-cook mix, available in packs of six sachets. The mix can be placed in boiling water to make a poached egg alternative. Vegan Hard Boiled Eggs — Four individually wrapped ready-to-eat vegan boiled eggs. Vegan Egg Roll — A ready-to-eat boiled egg-style product, sold in a sliceable roll. Vegan “Egg” & Cress Filler — An egg and cress-style sandwich filling made with vegan mayo and Sinless Food’s hard-boiled egg alternative. The plant-based eggs are …

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Lukas Frei

Lukas Frei © Bühler
veg+ Interviews

Bühler: “We Work Together to Create Solutions for Customers That Otherwise Wouldn’t Have Been Possible”

Bühler Group is a prominent Swiss company known for its advanced technology solutions for food processing and manufacturing. Founded in 1860 by Adolf Bühler in Uzwil, Switzerland, the company has grown to become a global leader in providing technologies for processing grains, rice, pasta, chocolate, and other foods. With its global presence, Bühler operates research and development centers and manufacturing sites around the world, serving customers in over 140 countries. We spoke with Lukas Frei who leads the market segment Alternative Proteins and Food Ingredients at Bühler. He is based at the headquarters in Uzwil, Switzerland. In what ways is Bühler innovating in the field of meat alternative processing technology? One of the main challenges in the industry has been the texture of the products. …

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Meatable, a Dutch producer of cell-based pork meat, has become the first company to hold an officially approved cultivated meat tasting in the European Union and the first in the Netherlands.

Image courtesy of Meatable © Bart Maat
Cultivated Meat

Meatable Makes History as First Company to Hold a Cultivated Meat Tasting in the EU

Meatable, a Dutch producer of cell-based pork meat, has become the first company to hold an officially approved cultivated meat tasting in the European Union, and the first in the Netherlands. According to the announcement, the company held a private tasting for its cultivated pork sausages at its new headquarters in Leiden after receiving approval for product safety from the third-party committee sanctioned by the Dutch government. Important to note here is that Australian company Vow recently held Europe’s first official cultivated meat tasting featuring gourmet dishes crafted with Vow’s cultivated quail. However, this took place in Iceland which is not a member of the EU, and the Meatable news relates specifically to the first tasting in an EU country. Joining Meatable at this historic …

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Better Balance launches Better Nera with Chunk Foods

© Sigma
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Better Balance Launches Plant-Based Whole Cut ‘Better-Nera’ in Spain with Chunk Foods

Following the announcement this January that the company was to develop co-branded plant-based whole cuts for the Latin American market in collaboration with Chunk Foods, Better Balance now presents the 100% plant-based “Better-nera” cut for the Spanish market. Also co-developed with vegan steak specialist Chunk Foods, using a patented solid-state fermentation technology, this innovative cut of plant meat is a pioneer in its category in Spain, says Better Balance, a subsidiary of the Sigma group. Better-nera has a high protein content (21%) and is an excellent source of fibre, enriched with iron and vitamin B12. In addition, it is cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat and sodium, and contains no artificial colours or preservatives. The product has been categorised with Nutriscore A and can be prepared …

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a plate with a steak takes center stage, representing the connection between meat consumption and environmental degradation Generative AI

©catalin-stock.adobe.com
Sustainability / Environment

European Environment Agency Urges Plant-Based Transition to Avoid Catastrophic Effects of Climate Change

A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) has underlined the importance of a shift towards plant-based foods to address climate change. The European Climate Risk Assessment report notes that the Farm to Fork Strategy and international dietary guidelines call for reduced animal product consumption and a shift towards plant-based diets. The authors find that this would reduce freshwater consumption and dependency on imported animal feed, while achieving healthier dietary patterns. Reducing animal product consumption would also free up a substantial quantity of cereal crops for human consumption. This is notable and significant since plentiful research suggests that climate change will negatively impact food security. The report finds a high probability that climate change will have substantial, critical, or catastrophic impacts on livestock rearing, …

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Albert Heijn launches AH Terra, an own-label plant-based line with 200 products

© Albert Heijn
Sustainability / Environment

Albert Heijn Reveals 44.1% of Proteins Sold in 2023 Were Plant-Based

In a new sustainability report, Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn has revealed that 44.1% of the proteins it sold last year were plant-based. This figure is up from 42.6% in 2022. The increase is partially due to the launch of Albert Heijn’s own-brand plant-based range, AH Terra, which is claimed to be the largest offered by any Dutch supermarket. It features over 200 products, including meat and dairy alternatives, snacks, and appetisers. The retailer is now aiming for 50% of the proteins it sells to be plant-based by 2025, and 60% by 2030 — a goal which is claimed to be more ambitious than those set by the Paris Agreement and the Dutch government. To help achieve this, Albert Heijn will expand AH Terra with …

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Dr. Wolfgang Kühnl, CEO & owner, InFamily Foods Holding & co-founder of The Cultivated B

Dr. Wolfgang Kühnl, Co-founder ©The Cultivated B
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

The Cultivated B: “There Will Be No Sustainable Protein Future Without a Sustainable Business Model”

Dr Wolfgang Kühnl is the managing partner of Germany’s InFamily Foods Holding GmbH & Co. KG. The son of an entrepreneurial family, Dr Kühnl studied food technology and biotechnology at the Technical University of Munich and completed his doctorate at the Chair of Food Process Engineering and Dairy Technology. In 2011, Dr Wolfgang Kühnl joined his parents’ company H. Kemper GmbH & Co. KG, which he has managed as a managing partner since 2015. Since 2020, Dr Wolfgang Kühnl has been one of two Managing Partners of InFamily Foods Holding, which was formed from the merger with Reinert. The group of companies consists of The Family Butchers (animal protein products), The Plantly Butchers (plant-based protein products), and The Cultivated B (alternative protein sources). With The …

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La Vie sandwiches launch in multiple French retailers

© La Vie
Food & Beverage

La Vie’s New Range of Vegan Club Sandwiches is “Selling Like Hotcakes” in Multiple French Retailers

La Vie™, the fast-growing French startup behind a patented plant-based recipe that replicates the taste, look, and texture of pork from pigs, has launched a range of three 100% plant-based club sandwiches: Le Parisien, Le Suédois, and Le British. The sandwiches all feature one of the brand’s two hero ingredients, the famous vegan bacon, and the more recently developed ham. The two products have both received numerous awards in France and throughout Europe, and are rich in protein, sources of fibre, and rated green on the Yuka app. Founded in 2021 by Nicolas Schweitzer and Vincent Poulichet and enjoying consistent success throughout the UK and mainland Europe, including a permanent listing on Burger King menus, La Vie is now investing in takeaway sales and the …

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Barbiecue sauce with miniature version

© Heinz
Products & Launches

Heinz Partners With Mattel to Launch a Pink “Barbiecue” Sauce, and it Happens to Be Vegan

Heinz UK has partnered with Mattel to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Barbie with an unusual limited-edition product — “Barbiecue Sauce“. The condiment contains a combination of vegan mayo and barbecue sauce, with beetroot extract used to give it a bright pink colour. Heinz first teased the product on social media in August, along with another suggested sauce — “Tomato Kenchup”. After many fans expressed their enthusiasm for the idea, Heinz decided to make the Barbiecue Sauce a reality (though there is no sign of the Tomato Kenchup so far). The sauce is said to be ideal for drizzling on burgers, fries, and salads. Initially, the condiment will only be available in the UK and Spain, though it may later be expanded to other markets. …

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Mosa CAMPUS

Image courtesy of Mosa Meat
Cultivated Meat

Mosa Meat Raises €40M From Investors Including Poultry Producer PHW Group

Dutch cultivated meat company Mosa Meat has raised €40 million in an oversubscribed funding round. The capital will be used to scale up production processes, drive down production costs, and prepare for market entry. The round was led by Lowercarbon Capital and M Ventures, with other participants including Dutch state-owned impact investor Invest-NL, LIOF (the regional development agency for the Limburg province), and LEF (the Limburg Energy Fund). Significantly, the round also attracted investors with a background in the conventional meat sector, including one of Europe’s largest poultry producers, PHW Group. PHW has been involved in the cultivated meat sector for some time; in 2022, it partnered with Israel’s SuperMeat with the aim of bringing cultivated products to market in Europe. Later that year, PHW …

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Solar Foods launches first -ever Gelato made with its microbial protein

© Solar Foods
Fermentation

Historic Moment in Food Production: Solar Foods Opens World’s First Commercial-Scale Air Protein Facility

Finnish air protein Solar Foods announces the official launch of its highly anticipated Factory 01 in Vantaa, Finland. Claimed as the world’s first factory growing food out of thin air, the new plant will commercially produce 160 tons annually of the company’s flagship protein, Solein, paving the way for the next generation of sustainable products.  Produced leveraging a microorganism, CO2, and electricity and described as a nutritious and versatile protein, Solein has been only released in small batches from the company’s pilot laboratory in Espoo, near Helsinki.  Solar Foods’ CEO and co-founder, Pasi Vainikka, shares: “We will be able to deliver quantities that allow food producers to create large batches of Solein-powered products for the first time. “While we have been able to offer consumers a small …

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Rügenwalder Mühle new vegan ham

© Rügenwalder Mühle
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Rügenwalder Mühle Further Expands Vegan Range After Discontinuing Animal Ham

Following the announcement that Rügenwalder Mühle was to discontinue its meat-based Schinken Spicker sausage to increase capacity for the vegan segment, the company now releases the next product in its vegan Schinken Spicker range. The family business, recently acquired by Pfeifer & Langen, is further expanding its vegetarian and vegan segment and is launching the new Vegan Ham Spicker type meat sausage with pea protein. With its strong and spicy flavour and a slight smoky note, it is modelled on a meat sausage in one piece. According to the company, the new product clearly stands out from the sliced Vegan Ham Spicker in terms of both flavour and range of uses. The Vegan Ham Spicker Meat Sausage can be prepared both hot and cold, is …

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Danish Crown admits to misleading consumers

Image courtesy of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark.

Politics & Law

Danish Crown Admits to Misleading Consumers by Claiming Pork is Climate-Friendly

Europe’s largest pork producer, Danish Crown, has admitted that it misled consumers by claiming that “Danish pork is more climate-friendly than you think”. The news comes after the Vegetarian Society of Denmark and the Climate Movement Association brought a case against Danish Crown for making unsubstantiated claims about the sustainability of its products. Last month, the Western High Court convicted Danish Crown of greenwashing for using the phrase “Climate-controlled pig”, but disagreed that some of the company’s other climate claims were misleading. Convinced that the claims did constitute greenwashing, The Vegetarian Society of Denmark and the Climate Movement Association chose to appeal. However, on April 12 Danish Crown contacted the Supreme Court to admit that it had misled consumers, just a few days after the …

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JULIENNE BRUNO artisan vegan cheeses launch at Coop Switzerland

© JULIENNE BRUNO
Cheese Alternatives

Artisan Vegan Cheese Brand JULIENNE BRUNO Expands to Switzerland with Updated Packaging

UK-based artisan vegan cheese brand JULIENNE BRUNO has announced an expansion to Switzerland, rolling out at hundreds of Coop stores across the country. The brand’s burrata alternative, Burrella, will be available at 375 Coop locations, while its stracciatella alternative, Superstraccia, has gained listings at 170 stores. Both products are award-winning — Burrella won the Dairy Alternative Innovation category at last year’s World Dairy Innovation Awards, while Superstraccia has received a Great Taste Award. This is JULIENNE BRUNO’s first international launch, with further market expansion planned in the coming months. The brand is also developing a new product range called Collection 02. New packaging In the meantime, JULIENNE BRUNO has relaunched its Collection 01 (featuring Burrella, Superstraccia, and the cream cheese alternative Crematta) with updated packaging. …

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Magpye plant-based pies

© Magpye
Company News

Magpye: Multi-Award Winning, Palm Oil-Free Plant-Based Pies

Magpye is a small-batch plant-based pie producer based in Northumberland, UK. The company was founded in 2019 by Chris and Sarah Fryer, who began baking pies in their kitchen before moving the business to a dedicated unit. Despite the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, Magpye continued to see success and has since won multiple awards. This includes a silver and two bronzes at the British Pie Awards 2024, for the company’s Cauliflower Cheeze Pie, Potato Dauphinoise Pie, and Chickn, and Leek & Bacun Pie respectively. Magpye recently moved into a new, larger production space at Vallum Farm — a site that is home to several artisan businesses — and has received support from economic regeneration company Advance Northumberland. This will allow the company to …

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Ingredients

Ingood by Olga, a Plant-Based and Natural Ingredient for Confectionery

Ingood by Olga is the business unit dedicated to ingredients of the Olga group, a family-owned company based in French Brittany. Ingood by Olga is committed to better nutrition through plant-based foods, and they believe that good nutrition starts with taste. For example, confectionery is a fast-growing market where texture and taste play a crucial role. PEPTIPEA® perfectly meets these expectations. PEPTIPEA® is a pea protein hydrolysate derived from European yellow peas. This plant-based protein has been developed for the nutrition and food markets. PEPTIPEA® is a foaming agent and an ideal substitute for gelatine, thanks to its functional properties: – Texture improvement: thanks to the swelling properties of pea peptides, PEPTIPEA® offers a light, airy texture, perfect for marshmallows or melt-in-the-mouth sweets – Clean-label: PEPTIPEA® enables the formulation of clean-label …

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Handtmann Steak 2.0

© Handtmann

veg+ Interviews

Handtmann: “Interest in the Steak Was Overwhelming. We Hadn’t Expected Such Strong Demand”

Handtmann Maschinenfabrik GbH specialises in innovative filling and portioning systems. These technologies are widely used in the food industry, including in the production of plant-based sausage and meat products and other alternative products. Handtmann focuses on innovation in order to realise new product ideas as well as classic recipes with state-of-the-art technology. At Anuga FoodTec in Cologne, Handtmann presented its new moulding system, a new option for the production of formed and filled products. The moulding system offers flexibility both for free forming and for forming and separating vegetarian and vegan alternative products, among others. With the “Steak 2.0”, Handtmann also presented its latest product innovation in the area of plant-based meat alternatives at the trade fair. In his role as industry manager for alternative …

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A shoe made from bacterial, self-dyeing leather

© Ed Tritton - Imperial College London

Materials

UK Researchers Develop First “Self-Dyeing” Plastic-Free Vegan Leather from Bacteria

Imperial College London researchers have developed, using bacteria, a plastic-free, vegan leather that dyes itself black during production. Scientists and material companies have been using microbes to produce sustainable textiles or dyes for the fashion industry; however, the researchers claim this is the first time a material produces its own color pigment. One of fashion’s most environmentally damaging processes is dyeing with synthetic chemicals. The researchers explain that black dyes — especially those used for tanning leather — are particularly harmful.  To solve this environmental problem, the researchers genetically engineered the bacterium Komagataeibacter rhaeticus to simultaneously produce microbial cellulose and the dark pigment eumelanin. Their new process has been published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.  “Inventing a new, faster way to produce sustainable, self-dyed leather alternatives …

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