The Protein Digest

Australia and New Zealand approve heart health claim for soy protein. FSANZ's acceptance of on-pack messaging for isolated soy protein, backed by more than 80 clinical trials, positions IFF's Solae Supro portfolio for broader use in functional foods across the region. (nutraingredients.com)

DTU researchers identify plant bacteria that improve soy yogurt safety and texture. The enterococci strains fermented soy drinks rapidly, suppressed pathogens including listeria and E. coli, and reduced sugars that cause digestive discomfort. DTU researchers say European Food Safety Authority approval is needed before commercial use. (phys.org)

England launches first major school food standards overhaul in a decade. The proposals would mandate daily fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains while banning confectionery, deep-fried foods, and sugar-sweetened drinks, with phased implementation expected from September 2027. (igd.com)

Fungal stem fiber improves texture of soy-based meat analogues. Dietary fiber from Tremella fuciformis stems, a processing by-product, boosted springiness by nearly 126% and structural anisotropy by 36% in high-moisture soy protein extrudates, according to research published in Food Research International. (sciencedirect.com)

FOI documents reveal severe food safety failures at plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak. Inspection records from the Pickering, Ontario, facility operated by Joriki show peeling paint, ceiling condensation, and no listeria testing of finished products, failures that food safety experts say contributed to an outbreak that caused 20 illnesses and three deaths. (canadianunderwriter.ca)

Beyond Meat stock surges on New York beverage distribution deal. A partnership with Big Geyser will bring Beyond Meat's functional beverage line, Beyond Immerse, to more than 26,000 outlets in the New York metro area, marking the product's first major move into physical retail. (theglobeandmail.com)

Microbial proteins make up a large share of fermented food content, NC State study finds. Researchers used metaproteomics to analyze 17 common fermented products and found that microbial proteins contribute up to 11% of total protein content and as much as 60% of all identified proteins, with implications for gut health and nutrition. (news.ncsu.edu)

Lockheed Martin backs microbial food firm as venture fund grows to $1bn. The expanded Lockheed Martin Ventures fund, up from $400 million, includes backing for Superbrewed Foods, a microbial protein manufacturer, alongside investments in AI, semiconductor, and fusion propulsion startups. More than 60 prior portfolio companies have become Lockheed Martin suppliers with over $750 million in contracts. (fooddigital.com)

AuX Labs raises $4M to scale microbial fermentation cheese platform. The Toronto-based company, which produces dairy proteins through microbial fermentation, will use the capital to ramp manufacturing and launch foodservice and consumer partnerships targeting high-performance cheese applications. (globenewswire.com)

dsm-firmenich launches microalgal omega-3 oil matching fish oil's EPA:DHA ratio for pet food. Veramaris O3 Max Pure, a fermented microalgal oil produced via closed-system fermentation, is billed as a contaminant-free, supply-stable alternative to marine-sourced omega-3s for pet food manufacturers. dsm-firmenich will debut the ingredient at Petfood Forum 2026 alongside new postbiotic research and taste innovations. (nutritioninsight.com)

Armored Fresh launches yeast protein drinks in the US under PIILK brand. The ready-to-drink beverages use naturally fermented, non-GMO yeast protein as their sole protein source and are formulated with just seven ingredients, launching via direct-to-consumer channels through piilk.com. (preparedfoods.com)

U.S. states diverge on cell-cultured meat bans as FDA modernizes food oversight. The FDA launched its BRIDGE Project to streamline federal-state food inspections, while South Dakota, Florida, Virginia, and Mississippi each took distinct legislative or judicial paths on regulating cell-cultured meat and dairy products. (jdsupra.com)

Kennedy signals heightened FDA skepticism toward cell-cultured meat. HHS Secretary Kennedy told Sen. Rounds that cell-cultured products will face significant FDA scrutiny and "a lot of skepticism" before entering the U.S. food supply, signaling a cautious regulatory posture. (yahoo.com)

Roslin Institute identifies protein marker that boosts cell-cultured fat yields tenfold. Researchers found that cattle stem cells carrying the surface protein CD13 yielded more than ten times as much fat as those without it, a breakthrough that could lower costs and improve scalability for cell-cultured fat used in meat and other foods. (thepoultrysite.com)

Singapore publishes approved list of novel foods including cultured meat. The published document covers ten categories, including cultured chicken, algae biomass, mycoprotein, and microbial fermentation–derived ingredients, with the earliest approval dating to May 2019. (food-safety.com)

Cell-cultured meat faces diverging U.S. state and global regulatory paths. Five products have cleared the joint FDA–USDA framework and reached U.S. restaurants, but state-level bans, unresolved federal labeling rules, and fragmented international approaches are creating a complex commercial landscape. (food-safety.com)

Minnesota Senate passes cell-cultured meat labeling requirement. The provision, part of a broader agriculture omnibus bill, requires clear labeling of cell-cultured meat, poultry, and other food products in retail and restaurant settings. (mnsenaterepublicans.com)

BSF Enterprise confirms London share admissions and corrects warrant disclosure. The London-listed tissue-engineering company confirmed 38.5 million new shares admitted to trading and corrected a prior broker warrants disclosure, clarifying its capital structure for shareholders. (theglobeandmail.com)

Fungal fermentation transforms odor of ryegrass protein and bread waste. Researchers at Aberystwyth University used three fungal species to ferment a substrate of perennial ryegrass protein and surplus bread crusts, identifying over 150 volatile compounds and demonstrating that the process can improve odor qualities relevant to human food applications. (nature.com)

Planetary closes CHF 22 million round to scale mycoprotein platform. The Geneva-based company's Series A equity round and credit facility bring its total funding to approximately CHF 32 million, backing a global licensing strategy for its fermentation technology and the expansion of its mycoprotein-based consumer and B2B product lines across Europe. (ggba.swiss)

Lawsuit targets federal agencies over cattle damage to Arizona's Gila River habitat. The legal action cites six years of survey data showing chronic cattle damage to critical habitat for 11 endangered species, including birds, fish, and reptiles, across 70 miles of federally protected river in southeastern Arizona. (biologicaldiversity.org)

Tennessee passes bill making livestock starvation deaths a felony. Senate Bill 2133 classifies starvation resulting in livestock death as aggravated cruelty, a Class E felony, when committed in a depraved and sadistic manner. The measure now awaits Governor Bill Lee's signature and would take effect July 1. (wsmv.com)

USDA food safety complaints hit record high in fiscal 2025. The FSIS received 2,016 complaints in fiscal year 2025, the highest since its monitoring system launched in 2001, with foreign objects such as wood and metal driving major recalls by Hormel and Hillshire. (gizmodo.com)

Study finds 98% of meat industry climate claims are greenwashing. A peer-reviewed study in PLOS Climate assessed more than 1,200 environmental claims by major animal agriculture firms and found nearly all lacked substantive evidence, with only Nestlé among 33 companies making a financial commitment toward its climate targets. (insideclimatenews.org)

Bipartisan DAIRY PRIDE Act reintroduced to curb plant-based labeling. The bipartisan legislation, reintroduced by Reps. John Joyce and Josh Riley, would require the FDA to enforce dairy standards of identity and crack down on plant-based products using terms like "milk" and "cheese" within 90 days. (nmpf.org)

USDA opens first Office of Seafood to extend farm programs to fishermen. The new office will give American seafood producers access to USDA programs long reserved for farmers, including risk management tools and low-interest loans, following years of advocacy from Alaska's congressional delegation and the fishing industry. (ktoo.org)

Compass Group India backs cage-free egg transition with credits and training center. The food-services company purchased 4,000 cage-free credits through Global Food Partners' Impact Incentives programme, offsetting four million caged eggs, and launched a training center near Bangalore to support local farmers transitioning to cage-free systems. (Protein Report)

Agri Stats and Greater Omaha settle in meat workers' wage suppression case. The federal court in Denver preliminarily approved deals in which Greater Omaha will pay $100,000 and Agri Stats will restrict its data practices, as part of a class action covering thousands of beef and pork processing workers over a 24-year period. (vitallaw.com)

Greece eases Lesvos cheese ban amid foot-and-mouth crisis. Minister Margaritis Schinas pledged to allow some cheese sales under strict biosecurity conditions and announced €8 million in emergency aid, as breeders blockaded Mytilini port to demand relief from restrictions imposed after the island's first foot-and-mouth case in 25 years. (ekathimerini.com)