Synbio Egg White Proteins Make Their Debut
“No chicken needed.” With the help of genetic engineering, one company is making animal-free egg proteins a reality. In this case, the proteins are made through synthetic biology using genetically engineered yeast. Products of synthetic biology are considered GMOs by the Non-GMO Project Standard and, if you’ve been tracking this newsletter you’ll know, represent a new tidal wave of GMOs entering the marketplace.
“World’s first animal-free egg protein”
In early October, Clara Foods, a biotechnology company founded to create synbio egg proteins using genetically modified yeast, announced that the company is rebranding as the EVERY Company and is launching its first animal-free egg protein, EVERY ClearEgg™. The product is being marketed as a clear alternative to other proteins, such as whey, for inclusion in a variety of beverages.
Back in April, with an eye toward commercialization, Clara Foods announced that it was partnering with ZX Ventures, the innovation sector of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the large-scale brewer. The partnership marked the first project undertaken by the new BioBrew division of ZX Ventures, which was founded in 2019 to facilitate next-generation fermentation.
Worldwide distribution
The following month, Clara Foods announced that it had launched its first product, an animal-free pepsin, which is now branded as EVERY Pepsin. Both products are being distributed worldwide through Ingredion. The company is also working on another synbio egg product, EVERY Egg White, which is intended for use in a wider variety of food products.
Clara Foods was founded in 2014 with the assistance of New Harvest, a research institute dedicated to cellular agriculture, and then nurtured with funding from SOSV under the IndieBio accelerator program.
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.