Ingredient

Ten days after receiving full USDA approval to produce and sell cell-cultured poultry, UPSIDE Foods served its first cell-grown chicken to five contest winners this past weekend at a private event in San Francisco.

Israeli food tech ingredient business Incredo LTD, formerly DouxMatok, announced it has closed a $30 million funding round this week which it will use to expand its research, development and commercialization strategy, as well as accelerate commercial partnerships.

U.K.-based Marlow Foods, owner of legacy plant-based meat alternative brand Quorn, announced this week the launch of a new division to begin selling its flagship mycoprotein ingredient to other food and beverage companies.

Over the last three years, Simpli has established ingredient partnerships with Whole Foods, sweetgreen and Daily Harvest, among many other natural products players. But now, the company is taking significant strides toward establishing its own brand in the natural food space.

In this week’s roundup: A new report finds consumer perceptions of MSG are shifting, Nestle and Cargill invest $15 million into regenerative ag projects, Mila partners with Simu Liu, Faiir Initiative publishes warning for livestock producers and Last Crumb goes gluten-free.

Glancing at the ingredient deck for plant-based proteins, you’re likely to find some familiar names, but there’s another ingredient that might soon be universal: konjac. The ancient root veggie found its way into alt-seafood despite not offering any protein content itself.

Prebiotic protein bar maker Rowdy has announced it will halt production of its flagship product this year, blaming rising input costs, coupled with the pandemic-induced economic climate, that made the product too costly to manufacture.

Both organic and conventional chocolate makers came under fire when a Consumer Reports study found potentially hazardous levels of lead and cadmium in 28 dark chocolate products. The issue became more complex when Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s, were served with class action lawsuits.

Alpha Foods, a maker of vegan meals and plant-based meat alternatives, has issued a voluntary recall of its Meatless Breakfast Sandwiches and frozen burritos after traces of milk were discovered in the products.

Bel Group – maker of Babybel, Boursin and The Laughing Cow brands – is partnering with food technology company Standing Ovation to use the startup’s animal-free, casein milk proteins to develop new cheese alternatives.