Israel-based animal-free dairy start-up Remilk has received Health Canada’s ‘Letter of No Objection,’ enabling the use and sale of its animal-free beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein in Canada.

Remilk's animal-free BLG milk protein is equivalent to its cow-derived counterpart, but it is produced through precision fermentation, without a single cow. The company manufactures its protein at commercial scale in several locations around the world.

In February last year, Remilk received a ‘No Questions Letter’ from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and gained approval from the Singapore Food Agency for its animal-free BLG protein and, in April, it received regulatory approval in Israel.

Now, with Health Canada's ‘No Objection Letter,’ Remilk says it is LBG protein is the “first” animal-free protein greenlit for use within the country.

The letter means that Canadian manufacturers can use Remilk's protein in a variety of products with the same taste and texture as milk, ice cream, yogurt, cream cheese and more. The protein is free of lactose, cholesterol and growth hormones, and Remilk says it provides “significant” nutritional and environmental benefits.

Aviv Wolff, Remilk's co-founder and CEO, said: "This is an important day for us at Remilk, and a historic one for Canada as it opens its doors to the new-dairy revolution. We developed a strategic roadmap for regulatory approvals around the world, recognising that CPG companies seek solutions that benefit consumers throughout North America. We prioritised Canada in our regulatory strategy, following the green light from the FDA.”

He continued: “There's a lot to love in dairy, which is why we set out to create a solution that will enable consumers to enjoy the taste of the dairy they love, without dairy's environmental and health-related drawbacks. The recognition from Health Canada – which follows years of R&D and major investments by Remilk – led to this pivotal moment, enabling a substantial market entry."

Ori Cohavi, co-founder and CTO at Remilk, commented: "Health Canada's acceptance of our animal-free protein is additional validation of its safety and purity. Canada is the fourth separate health administration to conduct thorough examinations of our protein and each, individually, found it to be equivalent to its traditional counterpart.”

Cohavi explained that regulatory approvals serve to open new markets for the sale of these proteins, while also reassuring both industry and consumers that the protein is the same milk protein they have been consuming for decades.

Wolff added: "Canada is an important market for us, and we are proud to be the first to enter with an opportunity to deliver an unparalleled dairy experience for Canadians. We are now ready to partner with leading food companies in the country and offer consumers a whole new experience of guilt-free indulgence.”

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