Canada Gives Green Light to Sale of Vegan Animal-free Protein by Remilk

20th Feb, 2024

Shortly after declaring that the country will no longer allow the sale of animal-tested products in Canada - thanks to a decade-long campaign by Humane Society International - Canada has taken another step towards a cruelty-free nation.

Multi-national Israeli cultured food company Remilk has the green light to sell its animal-free, lab-grown milk protein in Canada. Remilk has recreated a key milk protein called beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), from a genetically modified yeast strain. 

Canada follows in the footsteps of Israel, Singapore, and the USA in giving regulatory approvals for the sale and use of BLG milk protein. However, the milk protein is not intended for sale directly to consumers or use in infant formula.

Health Canada’s ‘Letter of No Objection’ will open doors for dairy-free, cruelty-free, lactose-free, and cholesterol-free products including nutritional bars and beverages, cheese, frozen desserts, yogurts, and plant-based drinks. The synthesised protein lends the same physical properties to food as dairy protein in terms of taste and texture but with a significantly smaller environmental footprint. 

image source: remilk.com

What is precision fermentation?

Precision fermentation is a type of cellular agriculture. BLG (beta-lactoglobulin) is the first in the world to be produced by microbial fermentation - leading BLG to be categorised as a novel food by Health Canada. Precision fermentation has been in use to produce insulin for diabetics and to make calf-free rennet since the 1970s (rennet the protein, was originally derived from calf intestines which did not suit the sentiments of the Indian population).

A new wave of food tech companies is working to create synthesised bacon, eggs, and seafood that taste and perform the same but do not involve animal cruelty. Precision-fermented dairy is estimated to use 100 times less land, 25 times less feed, 10 times less water, and 5 times less energy than conventional dairy. 

What are your thoughts on precision fermented dairy? Will it revolutionise the market, and accelerate a global shift to animal-free food, or will it fade away as just another fad?

Join the conversation on how veganism is advancing food technology at Vegan India Conference 2024 (6th - 7th July). Register here veganindiaconference.com/newsletter.