CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Hampton Creek makes egg whites.
Dive Brief:
- Clara Foods received $1.7 million in seed funding to try to use genetically modified yeast to create substitute egg whites. The company is attempting to produce a substitute that has the same taste and nutritional value of real egg whites.
- The Clara Foods approach is a liquid alternative created using GMO yeast.
- The chicken-less egg whites could save substantial money and time for companies that procure eggs and then separate the egg whites. Another benefit is providing an alternative if a potential egg shortage develops due to Avian flu. The substitutes would also eliminate the risk of salmonella and alleviate animal welfare issues.
Dive Insight:
The cost and time savings of chicken-less egg whites may be attractive to food manufacturers, especially large companies that use a lot of egg whites. With pressure on food manufacturers to remove GMOs and potential GMO labeling requirements, many companies might be unwilling to adopt a new GMO ingredient.