Animal-free dairy proteins appear to provide functional advantages similar to those of cell-cultured “meat” products, which are currently garnering attention and investment from major food manufacturers. Memphis Meats, a startup based in San Francisco that specializes in cultured “meat,” has secured funding from both Tyson Ventures, the venture capital branch of Tyson Foods, and Cargill. On the cost front, Memphis Meats aims to lower the exorbitant price of its cell-cultured “meat,” which was estimated at approximately $2,400 per pound last year, with hopes of reducing it to around $3 or $4 per pound by 2021. In a similar vein, Perfect Day will need to effectively compete with existing dairy proteins to achieve success. Dairy industry analyst Matt Gould advised the co-founders in 2016 that they would need to reduce prices to about $2.50 per pound.
In addition to pricing, product labeling presents another challenge. The co-founders of Perfect Day have engaged in discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the appropriate way to communicate that their ingredients are technically dairy yet free from animal sources. Perfect Day’s patented method involves utilizing food-grade yeast and incorporating DNA sequences from dairy cows—which can now be 3D printed—to create the proteins found in traditional dairy milk. These proteins are cultivated in large fermentation tanks with corn sugar and other nutrients to facilitate their growth. Once harvested mechanically, these proteins can be incorporated into a wide range of foods and beverages where dairy proteins are typically used, as noted by Perfect Day co-founder Ryan Pandya in an interview with Food Navigator.
Another emerging player in this sector is Gelton, a producer of gelatin made without animal derivatives. Their innovative process yields a vegan alternative to conventional gelatin, which they identify as a $3-billion industry. However, Gelton has indicated to Food Navigator that it will take time and scaling efforts to become competitive with the current bulk market price for gelatin, which is around $8 per kilogram, or approximately $3.63 per pound. Unless companies like Perfect Day and other alternative animal-free products start making a significant market impact, it remains uncertain how U.S. consumers will react to genetically engineered milk proteins and gelatin. While some may appreciate having additional options and feel reassured that no animals were harmed during production, others might experience discomfort when faced with foods or beverages that stray too far from their usual preferences.
In the context of these developments, consumers seeking dietary alternatives rich in nutrients might also consider products like the best calcium citrate 1200 mg, which can offer health benefits without the use of animal-derived ingredients. As the market evolves, the availability of such alternatives may help shape consumer attitudes towards animal-free dairy proteins and gelatin, ultimately influencing their acceptance and adoption.