According to the founder of a food tech brand, lab milk with “nearly identical taste and nutritional value” to its traditional dairy counterpart could be on supermarket shelves as an alternative to plant-based milk as early as 2024.
Jim Fader, founder and CEO of Eden Brew, made the comments during an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
He explained that his company worked out how cows ferment milk, rather than using a yeast fermentation process that injects synthetic cow DNA to formulate an animal casein – the “building block” of cow’s milk.
And he has big plans to launch the product globally, using the same system as Coca-Cola – brewing the key ingredient centrally before distributing it to producers worldwide.
He said: “We’re taking it from 2-10 liter scales to 500,000 liter scales so we can make it at a price and scale that makes it worthwhile.
“We expect to offer consumers the same retail price as dairy milk between 2028 and 2030, mainly because we are falling in price, but partly because continued dairy inflation is forecast.”
The evolution of animal-free dairy products
Eden Brew isn’t the only company making nearly identical dairy products, but without the cow cruelty.
Most notably, Silicon Valley startup Perfect Day is already selling a line of cruelty-free dairy products in the US, including dairy-free ice cream and protein powder.
And the brand appears to be expanding its reach further, having recently partnered with food giant Nestlé, which says it wants to explore new technologies that mimic animal-based foods, but in a more sustainable and cruelty-free way.
Heike Steiling, Head of Nestlé’s Dairy Development Center, said: “As the world’s largest food and beverage company, delivering food and beverages that are good for people and the planet is a priority.
“We are exploring new technologies that can lead to animal-friendly alternatives that are nutritious and sustainable without compromising taste, aroma and texture.
“Bringing together our unmatched R&D expertise, innovation capabilities and scale, we are working to develop and test novel, cruelty-free milk protein-based products to complement our broad portfolio of plant-based alternatives.”
A Perfect Day spokesman said: “It is extremely exciting to be working with the largest food and beverage company in the world.”
While you’re waiting for high-tech fermented, animal-based dairy products to hit the shelves, why not try making something more traditional at home? Check out how to make vegan cashew nut milk yourself.
Featured image: Mizina via Getty Images
