By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

The VRG recently reported in October 2021 on “animal-free” whey protein developed by Perfect Day.

To be clear, Perfect Day’s whey protein is not taken directly from cow’s milk. It is produced by microorganisms possessing bovine-derived genetic material coding for whey. The bovine genetic information was taken from a virtual DNA library and based on actual genetic material (as stated in our earlier article and on Perfect Day’s website) “…taken from the blood of 8-year-old L1 Dominette 01449, a cow living in Montana, in 2009.”

The resulting whey protein is functionally identical to cow’s whey. This means it performs the same roles just like cow’s whey in foods and beverages. For example, it could be used as a fat replacer, emulsifier, or texturizer.

Because “animal-free” whey is genetically identical to cow’s milk whey, people with cow’s milk allergies should avoid the “animal-free” whey protein as well as stay away from cow’s milk and ingredients derived from it.

In our previous article, we listed a few seemingly non-dairy ice cream brands that already use this whey protein. We also predicted that Perfect Day’s “animal-free” whey – as well as “animal-free” caseins that are proteins also found in cow’s milk – would soon become widely used in a large number of other food and beverage products.

So, it was no surprise to read about the launch in November 2021 of an “animal-free” cream cheese alternative by food giant General Mills.

Called Bold Cultr, this cream cheese product is labeled with the phrase “contains milk allergens” on the front and back of the container. This statement alerts consumers with dairy sensitivities or allergies.

The bovine gene-derived whey appears on the ingredients label of this product as “non-animal whey protein (contains milk allergens).”

Natural flavors in Bold Cultur cream cheese alternative

Bold Cultr cream cheese alternative also contains unspecified natural flavors. Knowing that these could be animal-derived, we reached out to the company for more information in mid-November 2021. We have not received a reply yet.

Palm oil in Bold Cultr cream cheese alternative

Interested readers concerned about the environmental impacts of food ingredients should note the second ingredient on the label (after water) is “oil blend (palm oil and palm kernel oil).”

Being a major ingredient in a food means it is present in a large, albeit unspecified, amount according to p. 17 of the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Labeling Guide.

Production of palm oil ingredients is associated with the massive destruction of mangrove forests and mass extinction of species (such as orangutans and rhinos). Mangrove forests in particular are known to be huge carbon sinks that absorb carbon emissions responsible for accelerating our climate crisis. Without mangrove forests, greenhouse gases are likely to build up more quickly in the atmosphere.

Where is Bold Cultr cream cheese alternative sold?

According to Food Navigator – USA, Bold Cultur cream cheese is currently available at select Hy-Vee stores in Minnesota. The company website states that it will soon be available for purchase online, at cafes, through foodservice, and in many retail outlets.

A General Mills blog says Minneapolis-based Rise Bagel Company will begin offering this cream cheese alternative in January 2022.

Food Navigtor – USA also reports that select Starbucks locations in the Pacific Northwest are testing milk and dairy products from Perfect Day.

Right now, Bold Cultur cream cheese alternative is available in plain flavor only, although strawberry and chive & onion flavors are in development.

Which food and beverage products contain “animal-free” whey?

Besides the ice cream brands we listed in our Perfect Day Post, here’s a list of food products containing bovine gene-derived whey that have already launched or will do very soon:

• Modern Kitchen (Urgent Company) cream cheese
• Brave Robot cake mix
• Natreve protein powder
• California Performance Company protein powder
• Villa Dolce gelatos and bakery items

A recent post on the General Mills website states that cheese alternative slices and shreds are in the planning stages. No date for their debut is specified.

Are “animal-free” proteins including lab-based meat really vegan?

Many vegans would probably believe that proteins manufactured by genetically engineered microbes containing animal-derived genetic blueprints are not vegan. There is still an animal substance involved in making such proteins.

However, the companies producing these “animal-free” proteins can have a different opinion.

For instance, on its website FAQ page, Bold Cultur includes this Q&A:

“Is BoldCultr vegan?

Yes – BoldCultr products do not contain any ingredients from animals.”

There’s no question that “animal-free” dairy products and “lab-based meat” are challenging the definition of vegan. For example, Dr. Uma Valeti, founder and CEO of the “cultured” meat company Upside Foods that uses animal stem cells to create its products including meatballs, chicken, and duck, stated in a recent Fortune article:

 “…I think we’re going to challenge the definition of veganism and what veganism actually means if you become a vegan because of animal welfare and environmental reasons,” he said. “If you are vegan because you just don’t want to eat anything animal-based, we are animal-based. We are animal cells. So I think we’re going to challenge the definition and there’ll be more very large conversations on the philosophy behind the definition of vegan.”

If you’re a vegan, make your views known. Encourage clear labeling of products stating if animal stem cells were used to create the foods, so consumers can make choices. 

What’s next for “animal-free” dairy proteins?

There are numerous business startups hoping to create “animal-free” cheeses using casein proteins made by microbes that have been programmed with bovine-derived genetic material containing the codes for caseins.

In cellular agriculture using precision fermentation, microorganisms are transformed into cell factories churning out large quantities of targeted animal proteins starting from animal genes alone.

Food Technologists consider manufacturing cheese in this manner more challenging than producing “animal-free” whey. Casein proteins in cheese are more structurally complex than whey proteins and difficult to replicate in the lab. So, “cow-less” cheeses are not yet available in restaurants or stores. By comparison, food and beverage products containing “animal-free” whey are.

However, several companies are working hard to get “animal-free” caseins to function in their cheese products just like those from cow’s milk do.

For example, Change Foods, whose CEO is vegan, plans to launch its “animal-free” cheese in 2023.

New Culture – with its slogan “cow cheese without the cow” – intends on launching its “animal-free” mozzarella cheese in pizza restaurants at the end of 2022 and then more broadly in retail outlets in 2023.

Vegans and people with milk allergies may wish to check back frequently to The VRG blog for more articles on this emerging food trend. 

The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.