Food regulations

Cultivated bacon on top of a burger

Image courtesy of Uncommon
Politics & Law

UK Invests £1.6 Million in Europe’s First Regulatory Sandbox to Fast-Track Cultivated Meat Approvals

The UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced £1.6 million in funding for a regulatory “sandbox” within the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), specifically for cultivated meat and seafood. Claimed as Europe’s first, the sandbox aims to accelerate the authorization process for these novel proteins. Cultivated meat must undergo a comprehensive food safety assessment in alignment with the UK’s existing regulatory framework for novel foods and must be authorized by ministers before becoming publicly available. The sandbox aims to boost regulators’ scientific knowledge of cultivated meat, develop detailed guidance, and provide pre-submission consultations to companies to streamline approval timelines while maintaining safety standards. It will also review hygiene in production facilities, labeling, and nomenclature. Other initiatives, approvals, …

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on novel food products to receive advice on the requirements for applications to obtain authorization to market their innovations in the EU market.
Politics & Law

EFSA’s Call for Pre-Submission Advice for SMEs on Novel Food Applications Ends Soon

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on novel food products to receive advice on the requirements for applications to obtain authorization to market their innovations in the EU market. As stated by EFSA, the initiative aims to support SMEs with no or limited experience by providing general pre-submission advice (GPSA) at two stages of their novel food development and application process: At the very early stage of developing the novel food, even before starting the studies that will be included in the application. At the latest stages of the application’s preparation, when most of the information that will be included in the application is already available to the SME. Selected SMEs will receive valuable advice from EFSA, from …

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AQUA Cultured Foods

© AQUA Cultured Foods
Fermentation

AQUA Cultured Foods’ Fermented Fish-Free Seafood Receives GRAS Allowing Sale in US

Chicago-based alternative protein company AQUA Cultured Foods has announced that its fish-free seafood, created through fermentation, has been deemed safe for human consumption. The company’s cellulose-based products have been self-affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) following a review by an independent panel of scientific and toxicology experts. This GRAS status allows AQUA Cultured Foods to sell its products in the United States. Cellulose-based alt seafood AQUA’s fish-free seafood, which includes tuna and scallops, is primarily composed of cellulose grown through biomass fermentation. This method allows the products to closely replicate the texture and appearance of traditional seafood. The company’s offerings are clean-label, consisting of minimal ingredients. AQUA’s scallops are made from water, cellulose, and plant-derived flavors designed to mimic the oceanic notes of real …

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The Better Meat Co. receives historic GRAS "No Questions" letter from FDA for its meat-like Rhiza mycoprotein

Image courtesy of The Better Meat Co.
Company News

The Better Meat Co. Receives FDA GRAS ‘No Questions’ Letter for Rhiza Mycoprotein

California’s The Better Meat Co. (BMC), a B2B supplier of mycoprotein,  announces that it has received the FDA’s “no questions” letter, confirming that its Rhiza mycoprotein, derived from the mycelium of the fungi genus Neurospora crassa, is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption. BMC now joins Quorn, ENOUGH (we have yet to verify on this count), and Nature’s Fynd in receiving FDA support for such ingredients, according to BMC. However, the company’s CEO, Paul Shapiro, informs Cultivated X that this news marks the first GRAS for a mycoprotein made with a fungus species outside of the Fusarium genus. The company also announces that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which evaluated Rhiza as a meat enhancer, has recognized it as suitable and safe …

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The SFA recently issued a new draft, the Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB) on novel food and pre-market approval.

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Politics & Law

Singapore Proposes Revision of Novel Food Approvals with New “Defined Food” Category

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) recently issued a new draft, the Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB), proposing a new category, “Defined Food,” and new requirements for pre-market approval of these foods or ingredients. Under the FSSB, novel foods would be considered a sub-category of “Defined Food,” along with genetically modified (GM) foods, and insect-like species, all subject already to pre-market approval but will need to meet additional regulatory requirements before being imported or sold in the country. According to the document, “Defined Food” includes food that consists of or contains novel or genetically modified ingredients that have not received pre-market approval, as well as any insect-like species that are not cataloged as such. The bill, open for public comments until next …

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TurtleTree receives approval to commercialize animal-free lactoferrin in the USA

© TurtleTree
Fermentation

TurtleTree Obtains First-Ever Self-GRAS Status for Precision Fermentation-Derived Lactoferrin

Singaporean biotech TurtleTree claims that it has obtained the world’s first self-GRAS status (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA for a precision fermentation-derived lactoferrin, making it also the first Singaporean company to obtain self-GRAS for a synbio protein. This status confirms that TurtleTree’s animal-free lactoferrin is safe for human consumption, allowing the company to commercialize it in the USA. In May, the company unveiled the protein, branded under L+, claiming it as the world’s first animal-free lactoferrin. TurtleTree announced that it will supply LF+ for infant formulas, plant-based dairy, and sports nutrition products, including protein powders, functional beverages, meal replacement alternatives, and multivitamins, expecting profitability in 2024. The biotech company also announced that multiple clients have shown interest in buying a $500 million value of animal-free lactoferrin …

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Florian David and Anastasia Krivoruchko of Melt & Marble

Image courtesy Melt & Marble
Opinion

Op Ed: Dr Anastasia Krivoruchko, CEO of Melt & Marble, on Why Reformation of Food Regulations is Imperative

Dr. Anastasia Krivoruchko is an entrepreneurial scientist with a strong research background in molecular biology, microbial metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology. With over ten years of experience in precision fermentation, Anastasia has made significant contributions to the field. As a project leader at Chalmers University of Technology, she led cutting-edge microbial engineering projects, resulting in publications in top journals and multiple patents. Co-founding Melt&Marble, Anastasia focuses on precision fermentation to produce fats for animal-free foods. Reforming Food Regulation for a Greener Tomorrow By Anastasia Krivoruchko Recently, Nature Climate Change published a study concluding that emissions from the food system alone pose a substantial threat to world climate targets. Addressing unsustainable foods like meat and dairy becomes paramount. In this pursuit, innovative technologies like precision fermentation …

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Plant-based milk requirements

Image: FDA.gov
Politics & Law

“Imposes New Burdens”: FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Plant-Based Milk Labels

Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance on plant-based milk labeling. According to the agency, the draft guidance, when finalized, is non-binding and will represent the current thinking of the FDA on the topic of naming and voluntary nutrient labeling of plant-based milks. In summary, the agency now says plant-based milk alternatives can be called “milk”, but recommends such products to identify certain nutritional differences from cow’s milk on their front-of-package labeling.  In the guidance document, the FDA notes it has not established compositional requirements for plant-based milk alternatives, and that such products comprise a wide diversity of ingredients and methods of production.  Consumers not confused The agency also acknowledges that, as evidenced by numerous consumer studies and its own focus …

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