R&D NEWS

Danone is considering a significant partnership with Else Nutrition, a vegan startup producing baby and kids' formulas using diverse ingredients like almonds, buckwheat, and tapioca. While the kids' formula market predominantly relies on cow’s milk, Else Nutrition's plant-based approach has attracted Danone's attention. They've initiated a multi-stage collaboration where Danone would license Else Nutrition’s products for sale under its brand.

The Dutch biotechnology company Meatable opened a new pilot plant in the Netherlands to expand the production of its cultured pork meat. With a successful funding round, the 3,300 m2 facility, doubling their previous capacity, will enable them to scale up production and test larger quantities of cultured pork products.

The push for clean-label products might be hindering efforts toward significant sodium reduction in food products. Despite years of focus on reducing sodium intake, average sodium consumption in the US remains high, leading to health risks like heart disease and stroke. Various global entities, including government agencies and health organizations, are urging food companies to cut down on sodium.

Daiya Foods, a pioneer in North America's plant-based cheese category, has recently invested in technology to enhance their products. The company aims to address challenges faced by the plant-based cheese market, such as the decline in sales and consumer preference for dairy cheese. To combat this, Daiya has developed a proprietary cultured blend called Oat Cream, sourced from glyphosate-free oats, to improve taste, texture, and functionality in their dairy-free products. By focusing on traditional fermentation techniques, Daiya seeks to provide a more appealing plant-based cheese alternative while maintaining nutritional equivalence to dairy counterparts. Their reformulated products now boast increased protein and calcium content and reduced reliance on oils and starches. These revamped products are already available on shelves across major retailers in the US and Canada.

WNWN Food Labs recently completed Mondelēz International's CoLab Tech accelerator program, viewing it as the starting point for their cocoa-free brand. The program, managed by SnackFutures, offers mentoring and access to Mondelēz's network, focusing on sustainability and food technologies. Among nine startups chosen, WNWN was the sole alternative chocolate company selected.

Having raised $5.6 million earlier this year, WNWN aims to scale up production and expand its UK retail presence. Their cocoa-free chocolate, created from barley and carob through a unique fermentation process, mirrors chocolate's taste and properties, offering a low-sugar, vegan, caffeine-free, gluten-free, and palm-oil-free option safe for dogs.