Funghi is the new meat?

By: Trademagazin Date: 2022. 08. 30. 08:30

Scientists have developed a technique to cultivate a fungi-based food product that could serve as a healthier, high-quality tasting, and greener alternative to plant-based protein. The protein is cultivated from fungi that grow on a base of nutrient-rich food waste. Growing from a base of food waste infuses the fungi with more essential nutrients, such as protein, iron, and amino acids.

Edible white mushroom is the base

This makes them more nutritious than ingredients commonly used in plant-based alternative meat, such as peas, chickpeas, wheat gluten, and soy, according to the team of scientists from NTU Singapore’s Food Science and Technology (FST) program.

The NTU-developed food product, which is based on the edible white mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), would also address several critiques of plant-based protein, which often need flavoring to be added to taste good, are highly processed, and can lack some essential nutrients.

The fungi-based food product could be more readily accepted by consumers, as it already resembles meat more than other plant-based proteins, shredding similarly to cooked chicken.

Food Ingredients First