Betterland Foods™ – Food that is better for whom?

Animal-free food alternatives continue to enter the marketplace with great fanfare. Many of these products are created using synthetic biology, also known as synbio, a technique that involves the genetic engineering of microorganisms to create novel ingredients that an unmodified microorganism could never produce – such as dairy or whey proteins. It’s important to note that all products of new genetic engineering techniques, including synbio, are defined as GMOs by the Project’s Standard.

A new company, Betterland Foods™, made its debut at Expo West this year. Founded by Liz Falsetto, the creator of Think!® protein bars, Betterland Foods™ has been established to partner with Perfect Day® and create products that use the synbio developer’s animal-free whey protein. The new company’s first product, Betterland Milk™, was introduced at the show.

The milk comes in two forms, whole milk and extra creamy, and is expected to launch in retail stores this summer. In addition to Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein, the milk also contains water, sunflower oil, MCT oil (a supplement made from medium-chain triglycerides, a type of fat), cane sugar, inulin, pea starch, gellan gum, locust bean gum, pea flower extract, sea salt, and natural flavors.

Despite its official “launch” at Expo West, Betterland Milk™ actually made its debut last fall when two Starbucks locations in the Seattle area initiated a trial of the novel milk product. At the time, the product was attributed to Perfect Day®.

Shortly after Expo West, Betterland Foods™ released its second product, the WOO™ candy bar. Designed to mimic a well-known chocolate, caramel, and peanut chocolate bar, the WOO™ candy bar also features Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein (listed as cow-free whey protein on the ingredient panel). Other ingredients include inulin fiber, soluble corn fiber, sunflower lecithin, gum Arabic, sunflower lecithin, and guar gum. The candy bar is currently available on the WOO™ website.

According to Betterland Foods™, we should expect a variety of “cow-free” products based on Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein to be released in the future. It is unclear to what extent future products of the independent Betterland Foods™ will be distinct from or similar to those offered by Perfect Day’s affiliated company, the Urgent Company.

The Non-GMO Project’s Standard defines all crops and products developed using biotechnology, including new gene-editing techniques, as GMOs. We share this information to further one of the Project’s primary goals of creating greater transparency in the supply chain, ensuring you have the information you need to make the best choices for you, your brand, and your family. 

Please note that the information herein is for general informational purposes only and is based on the linked sources above.