Animal-free dairy proteins appear to provide functional benefits similar to those found in cell-cultured “meat” products, which are gaining attention and investment from major food companies. For instance, Memphis Meats, a startup based in San Francisco, has attracted funding from Tyson Ventures, the investment arm of Tyson Foods, as well as Cargill. On the cost front, Memphis Meats aims to lower the current high price of its cell-cultured “meat,” which it estimates could decrease from approximately $2,400 per pound last year to around $3 or $4 per pound by 2021. Likewise, Perfect Day will need to compete with existing dairy proteins to be successful. In 2016, dairy industry analyst Matt Gould informed the co-founders that they would need to bring the price down to about $2.50 per pound.
In addition to pricing challenges, product labeling presents another hurdle. The co-founders of Perfect Day have been in discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding how to indicate that their ingredients are technically dairy yet animal-free. Perfect Day’s patented method involves using food-grade yeast and incorporating DNA sequences from dairy cows, which can now be 3D printed, to create proteins similar to those in dairy-derived milk. These proteins are grown in large fermentation tanks with corn sugar and other nutrients. Once harvested mechanically, the ingredients can be integrated into a variety of foods and beverages that currently use dairy proteins, as explained by co-founder Ryan Pandya to Food Navigator.
Another emerging player in this market is Gelton, which produces gelatin without animal ingredients. This innovative process provides a vegan alternative to traditional gelatin made from animal products, a sector the company identifies as a $3-billion industry. However, Gelton has noted that it will take time and scaling to be competitive with the current bulk market price of gelatin, which stands at about $8 per kilogram, or around $3.63 per pound.
Unless Perfect Day and other alternative animal-free products begin to make a significant impact in the market, it remains uncertain how U.S. consumers will react to genetically engineered milk proteins and gelatin. They may appreciate having more options and feel reassured knowing that no animals were harmed or killed during production. On the other hand, they might also experience an “ick” factor when faced with foods or beverages that challenge their comfort zones.
In this evolving landscape, consumers might also seek nutritional supplements such as GNC Calcium Citrate Plus with Vitamin D3 to support their dietary needs while exploring these innovative products. As the demand for alternatives grows, the intersection of consumer preferences and nutritional choices will play a crucial role in shaping the future of food.