Danish company 21st.BIO has become the latest company to have achieved a self-affirmed GRAS status for its beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) ingredient, bringing another precision fermentation-derived, animal-free whey protein ingredient to the US market. The company – which part-licenses its fermentation technology from Novonesis – says the ingredient is ‘highly nutritious’ and can be used in the food industry as well as the medical, adult and sports nutrition space. In the US, it will be available under license to manufacturers who wish to scale-up its production. It’s the first food protein that the Denmark and California-based firm is making available through its development program, which includes supporting protein producers in taking their products to market, from upscaling production to achieving regulatory approval.

The US market is flooded with new plant-based protein products, but is this a sign of a booming market or a bubble? The answer is complex and depends on the factors driving the growth of these products. The US market is experiencing a surge in plant-based protein products, driven by several factors, including:

* **Consumer demand:** Consumers are increasingly interested in plant-based diets for ethical, environmental, and health reasons.

Elsewhere, New Culture’s cow-free casein has been used to create vegan mozzarella, which has in turn featured on the menu of chef Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza. And TurtleTree, which makes GRAS-certified animal-free lactoferrin, recently partnered with nutrition company Strive to launch an immunity-boosting beverage aimed at the adult nutrition and ready-to-mix protein powder market. In the consumer food space, however, a mixed picture. In 2023, Perfect Day told AgFunderNews​ it would sell its consumer products arm The Urgent Company in order to focus on B2B; the company has since made leadership changes and partnered with ice cream maker Breyers​, a Unilever company, to manufacture cow-free dairy ice cream. But Unilever has since announced it would spin-off its entire ice cream division as part of a cost-cutting productivity plan, leaving the fate of its brands hanging in the balance.

1. **The Case of General Mills and Bold Cultr:**

* General Mills, a major player in the food industry, shuttered its animal-free cream cheese brand Bold Cultr.

All this suggests there’s more to come from the animal-free dairy alternatives space.