Onego Bio, a Finnish-US food ingredient company, has submitted its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its non-animal egg protein.
Bioalbumen is said to be the first non-animal egg protein with an identical amino acid sequence to the natural protein.
It is a type of ovalbumin made through precision fermentation using Trichoderma reesei.
According to Onego Bio, this breakthrough brings the first non-animal egg protein with the same amino acid sequence as natural egg protein to the global food market.
Ovalbumin, the key protein in egg whites, is valued for its nutritional, functional, and performance benefits.
Onego Bio’s Bioalbumen is said to offer a sustainable alternative by using precision fermentation to produce ovalbumin outside the poultry supply chain.
This innovation aims to solve supply chain challenges in the $300bn global egg market, the food ingredient firm said.
Onego Bio CEO Maija Itkonen said: “Our GRAS filing marks a significant milestone for Onego Bio, reinforcing our commitment to building a more resilient supply chain and sustainable food system.
“By supplementing traditional agricultural inputs, we can help alleviate future supply chain risks and price fluctuations and provide significant benefits to human health and safety and the environment.”
The GRAS notification process will help in confirming that Onego Bio’s Bioalbumen meets FDA safety standards for its intended uses.
Bioalbumen is designed as a versatile drop-in solution for a wide range of products, including baked goods, confectionery, pasta, and ready-made meals.
By producing Bioalbumen through fermentation, Onego Bio offers a scalable, eco-friendly egg alternative that is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 89%, land use by 95%, and water consumption by 87%, compared to traditional egg production.
This process also helps protect against the rising threat of Avian Flu, enhancing food security and strengthening supply chains in the US.
In July, the precision fermentation company raised $55m. This was followed by $40m in Series A funding round in April to advance commercialisation and manufacturing of egg protein.
