Israel-based food-tech start-up Imagindairy has obtained self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status for its animal-free dairy protein in accordance with the FDA’s safety requirements.

Imagindairy says that its novel whey protein ingredient underwent significant internal and external review and safety testing, and confirms that the FDA has been notified of the ingredient’s self-affirmed GRAS status

The GRAS status means the ingredient is safe to be used in food and beverage products and provides a regulatory ‘green light’ for manufacturers to partner with Imagindairy.

Imagindairy follows in the footsteps of US-based alt-dairy company Perfect Day and fellow Israeli start-up Remilk, who have both met FDA requirements and received GRAS status. Perfect Day has already seen its animal-free whey protein used in alt-dairy products by companies including Nestlé, Mars and Coolhaus.

Imagindairy uses a microflora-based production method that it claims is “20 times more efficient than cows at converting feed into proteins”. It says that its proprietary technology leverages AI, which integrates both advanced computational biology and molecular biology technologies. This will enable large-scale production at costs that are in line with conventional dairy.

At the same time, the alt-dairy company has announced it is opening its “new and improved” headquarters near Haifa, Israel. The space has been custom designed to support Imagindairy’s next phase of growth, including state-of-the-art laboratories for R&D of ingredient solutions, a culinary and ingredient applications test kitchen, and its own fully operational pilot line that allows for testing in conditions similar to those in large scale fermentation processes.