The Protein Digest

Americans' understanding of protein quality diverges from nutrition science, IFIC finds. IFIC research finds that four in ten Americans equate high-quality protein with good taste rather than amino acid composition, highlighting a gap between consumer perception and nutrition science. (provisioneronline.com)

EU committee backs ban on 'bacon' and 'steak' labels for plant-based products. The European Parliament's AGRI committee advanced a deal restricting terms like "bacon" and "steak" for plant protein and cell-cultured meat products, while leaving "burger" and "sausage" untouched. (politico.eu)

Pasqal and True Nexus apply quantum computing to protein functionality modeling. Pasqal and True Nexus will develop quantum-powered models to predict protein gelation and functionality in food systems, aiming to close the performance gap that has limited adoption of plant and microbial proteins. (businesswire.com)

Plenish launches clean-label plant protein powders in the UK. Plenish, owned by Carlsberg Britvic, is moving into functional nutrition with pea protein powders marketed on clean-label credentials and fibre content, launching online in the UK this April. (foodbev.com)

dsm-firmenich launches pea protein TVP with built-in off-note masking. dsm-firmenich's new Vertis TVP line embeds receptor-based flavor modulation into the protein structure itself, removing the need for downstream masking agents in plant-protein meat formulations. (foodanddrinktechnology.com)

Japanese food companies push allergen-free products beyond niche markets. Asahi Group Japan, Kewpie, and TableMark are each developing allergen-free foods and repositioning them as mainstream choices rather than niche substitutes, using health-focused branding and cultural framing to reach broader Japanese consumers. (japan-forward.com)

Canada moves to finalize labeling guidance for plant-based egg alternatives. The CFIA published its consultation findings on proposed labeling rules for plant-based egg alternatives, clarifying that egg-related terms cannot be banned outright but must be qualified to avoid consumer confusion. (fasken.com)

Dutch supermarket meat products contain up to 40% plant ingredients. Research by Foodvalley found that meat products from Jumbo, Albert Heijn, and Lidl now average more than 10% plant ingredients, reducing production costs by 4.4% compared with conventional meat. (nltimes.nl)

CSIRO to exit food innovation and microbial fermentation research. CSIRO's proposed restructuring would end its work in microbial fermentation, strain engineering, and food manufacturing research, removing a critical resource for dairy and food ingredient companies in Australia. (en.edairynews.com)

Fermtech raises £2.5m to scale fermented cocoa shell ingredient. Fermtech will use the seed capital to commercialize Koji Cocoa, a fermented ingredient made from discarded cocoa shells that it says can cut manufacturers' costs by up to a third and emissions by 98%. (foodanddrinktechnology.com)

Guatemala's Magdalena plans 650,000-liter microbial fermentation facility. Magdalena is investing in a phased microbial fermentation facility in Guatemala to transform sugarcane feedstock into specialty molecules, marking its shift from commodity sugar production toward industrial biotechnology. (agroempresario.com)

Health Canada clears Remilk's fermented dairy protein, bypassing supply management. Remilk's microbial fermentation-derived whey protein has received Health Canada's approval as a novel food ingredient, enabling it to enter the Canadian market outside the dairy supply management framework. (farmersforum.com)

Danforth Center maps algae's metabolic rewiring, advancing renewable fuel prospects. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center scientists used metabolic flux analysis to decode how Chlamydomonas rewires its carbon metabolism under mixotrophic growth, yielding insights that could accelerate algae-based renewable fuel and biomass production. (newswise.com)

Max Planck Institute partners with Innocent Meat to scale cultured meat production. The Max Planck Institute and Innocent Meat GmbH are collaborating to apply pharmaceutical-grade bioprocess intensification techniques to cell-cultured meat, aiming to achieve higher cell densities and more efficient industrial-scale production. (idw-online.de)

Proposed mega manure digester in Washington state draws fierce local opposition. Pacific Ag's proposed Sunnyside RNG facility, set to become the largest manure digester in the country, faces pushback from residents and environmental groups who say it would compound pollution in the already heavily burdened Lower Yakima Valley. (thenewlede.org)

Minnesota bill would mandate environmental impact reviews for large feedlots. HF3940 would require environmental impact statements for feedlots of 10,000 or more animal units, targeting operations like Riverview's planned expansion of its West River Dairy to nearly 19,000 cows in western Minnesota. (house.mn.gov)

Missouri lawmakers debate reinstating mandatory country-of-origin meat labeling. A Missouri House committee weighed a resolution urging Congress to restore federal country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork, with the Missouri Rural Crisis Center and Missouri Farm Bureau clashing over whether the policy helps or harms producers. (komu.com)

Chick-fil-A delays cage-free egg pledge, citing bird flu and supply challenges. Chick-fil-A now says its decade-old commitment to fully cage-free egg sourcing by 2026 may not be met on time, even as rivals McDonald's and Starbucks have already completed the transition. (nypost.com)

USDA extends moratorium on manure-to-gas digester loans through 2026. The USDA cited a 28% delinquency rate and deteriorating financial conditions among anaerobic digester projects, with nearly all delinquent loan value tied to Wisconsin's BC Organics facility. (thenewlede.org)

Siberian livestock cull raises fears of undisclosed FMD outbreak. Farmers and industry sources in Russia suspect a mass livestock cull across Siberia may be driven by foot-and-mouth disease rather than the officially cited pasteurellosis, with potential consequences for the country's meat and dairy export ambitions. (pigprogress.net)

Yale study links higher cancer rates to counties with dense livestock operations. Researchers at the Yale School of the Environment found cancer rates 4 to 8 percent higher in counties with the densest concentrations of industrial livestock operations across California, Iowa, and Texas over a 20-year period. (nationofchange.org)

Manure digesters cut dairy methane but risk leaks and perverse incentives. A California study of 98 dairies found anaerobic digesters cut methane at most farms but caused significant leaks at others, while subsidy programs linked to biogas credits appear to be driving herd expansion on industrial dairy operations. (newscientist.com)

Plant molecular farming nears industrial scale as digital tools mature. Researchers at University College London and Sapienza University of Rome outline how digital tools and improved host plant engineering are positioning plant molecular farming as a credible alternative to mammalian and microbial bioproduction systems. (genengnews.com)

Moolec Science produces bovine myoglobin in pea seeds for the first time. Moolec Science demonstrated stable production of a heme-containing bovine protein in pea seeds, extending its molecular farming platform to a new crop with established global supply chains. (theglobeandmail.com)