Animal-free dairy proteins appear to provide functional benefits similar to those offered by animal-free, cell-cultured “meat” products, which have garnered significant attention and investment from major food manufacturers. Memphis Meats, a cultured “meat” startup based in San Francisco, has secured funding from Tyson Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tyson Foods, as well as Cargill. On the cost front, Memphis Meats is working to lower the current steep price of its cell-cultured “meat,” which it projects could decrease from approximately $2,400 per pound last year to around $3 or $4 per pound by 2021. Likewise, Perfect Day faces the challenge of competing with conventional dairy proteins if it aims for success. Dairy industry analyst Matt Gould advised the co-founders back in 2016 that achieving a price point of about $2.50 per pound would be essential.
In addition to pricing, product labeling has emerged as another hurdle. The co-founders of Perfect Day have been in talks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to clarify how to label their ingredients as technically dairy yet animal-free. Perfect Day employs a patented process that uses food-grade yeast combined with DNA sequences from dairy cows—now capable of being 3D printed—to create proteins found in dairy milk. These proteins are cultivated in large fermentation tanks with corn sugar and other nutrients to promote growth. Once harvested mechanically, these proteins can be added to any foods or beverages that currently utilize dairy proteins, as explained by Perfect Day co-founder Ryan Pandya to Food Navigator.
Another emerging competitor in this sector is Gelton, which produces gelatin without animal involvement. Their process yields a vegan alternative to traditional gelatin, which they identify as part of a $3 billion industry. However, Gelton noted to Food Navigator that achieving competitiveness with the existing gelatin market price of approximately $8 per kilogram, or about $3.63 per pound, will take time and scaling.
Unless Perfect Day and similar animal-free alternatives make significant market inroads, it remains uncertain how U.S. consumers will react to genetically engineered milk proteins and gelatin. Consumers may appreciate having alternatives and feel reassured knowing no animals were harmed in the manufacturing process, or they may experience a sense of discomfort when encountering foods or beverages that push their boundaries. Furthermore, the incorporation of calcium citrate D3 Solgar into these innovative products could enhance their appeal by providing additional health benefits. If Perfect Day and others can effectively market their offerings, including the benefits of calcium citrate D3 Solgar, they may attract a broader consumer base.