India clears Rhiza mycoprotein; Meala scales egg-free protein
India's food regulator FSSAI cleared BMC Ingredients' Rhiza mycoprotein, the fourth market to do so, with supply to Indian manufacturers planned for Q2 2027.
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India's food regulator FSSAI cleared BMC Ingredients' Rhiza mycoprotein, the fourth market to do so, with supply to Indian manufacturers planned for Q2 2027 [76].
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Meala says it has more than tripled pea-protein capacity in France and Germany, enough to replace 1,400 tonnes of eggs a year from 2027 [74].
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EU lawmakers are weighing an exemption so roast-chicken and smoky-bacon crisps escape the "meaty names" ban [125].
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New York City's mayor named Voters For Animal Rights founder Allie Taylor to run the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare, per VegNews [47].
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In a six-week randomized trial of 117 adults with knee osteoarthritis, 20 g a day of the plant fibre inulin reduced pain versus placebo, and 3.6% of the inulin-only group dropped out against 21% on physiotherapy [18].
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an approval letter for BMC Ingredients' Rhiza, a mycelium protein made by fermenting the fungus Neurospora crassa [76]. India is the fourth market to clear Rhiza, after the US, Singapore and Canada [71][76]. Under FSSAI rules a novel ingredient needs prior approval before it can be made or imported for sale in India, so the letter is a precondition for any commercial supply [76].
“Indians want more protein, but they don’t have to get it from meat or processed isolates like whey, and can instead enjoy this all-natural whole food.”
Paul Shapiro, co-founder and CEO, BMC Ingredients · [71]
By the numbers
$13Mprojected annual revenue from five agreements with major meat producers in North America, South America and Asia, a company projection [71]
100 dry tonnes a monthis the output BMC Ingredients is working with a contract manufacturer in Asia to reach [71]
9,000 litresis the size of the bioreactor at its Sacramento demo plant [71]
WatchSupply to Indian manufacturers is planned for Q2 2027, the same quarter BMC Ingredients expects its commercial-scale facility to come online [76].
Fromvegconomist the vegan business magazineGreen Queen
02▲InnovationStory
Meala triples pea-protein capacity to replace eggs in bakery and plant-based meat
Photo: green queen
Israeli ingredient company Meala says it has more than tripled production of its texturising pea protein at two European sites, in France and Germany, enough to replace 1,400 tonnes of eggs a year from 2027 [70][74]. It sells through dsm-firmenich as Vertis PB Pea and through Lasenor as VP-100, and says it holds a self-affirmed GRAS determination in the US and is now filing a notification with the FDA [70][74]. The pitch lands after avian flu and Newcastle disease drove European egg prices to a decade-long high last year [70].
“The first plant-based meat alternatives featuring Meala’s protein have already been successfully launched by customers and are now commercially available across Europe.”
Hadar Ekhoiz-Razmovich, co-founder and CEO, Meala · [74]
By the numbers
63% lower carbon emissions and 96% less waterper kg of protein than egg powder, per an independent life-cycle assessment that Meala cites [70]
More than 40%lower formulation cost in a sponge cake against an egg-based reference, Meala's own figure [74]
About $10Mraised to date, with a Series A round now open [70]
WatchMeala offers tastings of egg-free baked goods at Fi Europe in Frankfurt, November 17 to 19, booth 51SU53 [74].
FromGreen Queenvegconomist the vegan business magazine
EU lawmakers weigh exempting meat-flavoured crisps from the "meaty names" ban
Photo: foodnavigator
EU negotiators agreed earlier this year to bar meaty terms such as chicken, bacon and steak on products without meat, leaving burger and sausage alone [125]. The European Snacks Association's Olivier Devaux told Politico that roast-chicken and smoky-bacon crisp flavour names may be swept in by accident [125]. EPP lawmaker Stefan Köhler and three colleagues propose exempting snacks, sauces, seasonings and condiments, while separate proposals to extend the ban to burger and sausage are yet to be agreed [125].
“clearly understood as distinct from meat or meat substitutes”
the text of the EPP amendment from Stefan Köhler and three other members, as reported by FoodNavigator · [125]
By the numbers
31meaty terms are covered by the ban agreed in the trilogue [125]
New York City names animal-rights campaigner Allie Taylor to lead its animal welfare office
Photo: vegnews
VegNews reports that Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Allie Taylor, founder and former president of Voters For Animal Rights, as director of the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare [47]. The move follows his appointment of Siddhartha Sanchez, a lifelong vegan, to lead the city's food policy [47]. Taylor lists free and low-cost spay/neuter in every borough and pet food at human food pantries among her first priorities [47].
“This role is an opportunity to help make animal rights part of the everyday work of city government.”
Allie Taylor, director, Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare · [47]
“Our office also works to protect animals exploited for food and entertainment”
Allie Taylor, director, Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare · [47]
FromVegNews.com
Worth Knowing
Food & Recipes
Plate pick: Buttermilk's vegan, gluten-free Caramel Choc Biscuit Fingers, a Twix alternative, surfaced on Morrisons' site at a recommended £1.50 per 50g pack ahead of launch [56].
Innovation
Whey prices have risen fivefold in a year, and Dutch startup Revyve launched a yeast protein it says costs less than whey and scores a PDCAAS of 1.0 [72].
A European Commission survey of more than 26,000 people found just over four in ten would buy a labeled, microbe-made egg-identical protein, and only 11% of those buyers would pay more than for the conventional version [75].
Law & Policy
Bel Group overtook Danone atop the Methane Action Tracker, and only those two of the 23 dairy and coffee companies assessed have reduction targets aligned with the Global Methane Pledge [122].
Research & Nutrition
Researchers who DNA-barcoded 29 shark products sold in the US found 27 labeled only as shark or mako shark, and three of the 11 species identified were Critically Endangered [20].
Among 790 Spanish adolescents, modeled swaps of 5% of energy from animal to plant protein were not associated with physical fitness, though this cross-sectional study cannot show cause [2].
One Good Thing
Hong Kong has lost more than 60% of its natural tree hollows to storms and pruning, and its roughly 200 wild yellow-crested cockatoos are short of places to nest [84]. Biologist Astrid Andersson and arborist Harry Wong have since put up 15 camera-fitted nest boxes, and four are occupied [84]. In May, a chick found in an apartment air-conditioning vent was set in one nearby, its parents found it, and, in Andersson's words, "The parents were able to feed him and bring him from a tiny little baby to a fully fledged bird." [84]
vegconomist the vegan business magazine
