First animal-free milk protein approved for sale in Canada

Canadians have a new alternative protein option: animal-free milk. In a first for this country, Health Canada said it has no objection to the food use of Remilk’s beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein, which is produced from a genetically modified yeast strain. The protein “does not raise concerns related to food safety,” the department concluded following its assessment.

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“Regulatory approvals serve to not only open new markets for the sale of our proteins but also as reassurance for both industry and consumers that our protein is the same milk protein they have been consuming and enjoying for decades,” Ori Cohavi, Remilk’s co-founder and CTO, said in a statement.

Health Canada’s “Letter of No Objection” will open the door to various animal-free products, including nutritional bars and beverages, cheese, ice cream and yogurt, and plant-based drinks. The company says these foods will have the same taste and texture as milk while being free of lactose and cholesterol and having a smaller environmental footprint than dairy production.