The FEMA Expert Panel has determined the use of Australian biotech company Nourish Ingredients’ proprietary Mortierella alpina biomass (S11) is generally recognised as safe (GRAS) for use as a flavouring in food. The biomass is the primary ingredient behind the company’s plant-based fat, Tastilux, clearing the way for immediate commercial sales direct to US food manufacturers and brands.
Tastilux is a world-first animal-free fat, derived from nature and scaled through fermentation, that aims to provide an authentic meat-eating experience without the animal.
The company says its primary goal is to address the biggest issues in the plant protein market, particularly around taste, labelling, and an authentic experience, which have held back mainstream consumer appeal. When cooked, it facilitates the natural Maillard reaction, creating the meaty flavour, aroma, and taste expected from traditional meats like chicken, beef, or pork.
Nourish signed a joint commercial agreement in November 2024 with Chinese company Cabio Biotech to manufacture and distribute Tastilux throughout the Asia Pacific region, with the first commercial production run achieved in April.
Receiving FEMA GRAS status opens up the doors to the US food market, one of the largest in the world, and also offers opportunities in additional international markets.
The FEMA GRAS program is a rigorous scientific assessment process used to evaluate the safety of flavour ingredients for use in human food. The program determines whether ingredients are considered safe for consumption under their intended conditions of use as a flavouring, and is recognised as a trusted benchmark within the flavour and food industries.
In addition to the plant-based and hybrid protein market, Nourish stated Tastilux is expected to enter other multi-million-dollar food product categories, including snacks, ready-made meals, and tallow replacements – providing a truly authentic flavour at extremely low inclusion rates and competitive prices. With partnership agreements already in motion across the Middle East, the US, Australia, and New Zealand, the ingredient is poised for global commercial rollout.
Nourish Ingredients founder and CEO, James Petrie, said the company is already trialling its ingredients with key partners in the US and globally, and receiving FEMA GRAS status accelerates bringing Tastilux to the US market as soon as possible.
“This regulatory milestone represents a major commercial breakthrough for our proprietary potent fats and technology, enabling us to deliver a true-to-meat experience that has been missing in the market,” said Petrie.
Australia is driving biotechnology innovation for the future food system, with several globally leading companies making strides in cell cultivation, precision fermentation, plant molecular farming and synthetic biology. On 21 August, the Made & Grown Future of Food event is taking place in Canberra to showcase these technologies, with a stacked line-up of industry leaders and experts, including Petrie.
