Nourish Ingredients has received ‘generally recognised as safe’ (GRAS) status from the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) for the use of its proprietary Mortierella alpina biomass (S11) as a flavouring in food.

The biomass is the main ingredient in Tastilux, an animal-free fat designed to replicate the flavour of meat.

The FEMA Expert Panel’s determination allows immediate commercial sales of Tastilux in the US and opens opportunities in additional international markets.

Tastilux is produced via fermentation and is intended to improve the flavour and aroma of plant-based, hybrid protein and other food products. When cooked, it enables the Maillard reaction that creates meaty taste and aroma profiles similar to chicken, beef or pork.

The ingredient is aimed at addressing taste and labelling challenges in the plant protein sector and is suitable for use at low inclusion rates across multiple categories, including snacks, ready meals and tallow replacements.

The FEMA GRAS programme evaluates the safety of flavour ingredients based on scientific data and expert review. Recognition under the scheme is considered a key benchmark for safety in the flavour and food industries.

Nourish Ingredients has partnership agreements in place across the Middle East, US, Australia and New Zealand, with plans for a wider commercial rollout.

James Petrie, founder and CEO at Nourish Ingredients, said: “We’re already trialling our ingredients with key partners in the US and globally, and this FEMA GRAS status accelerates bringing Tastilux to the US market as soon as possible".

“This regulatory milestone represents a major commercial breakthrough for our proprietary potent fats and technology, enabling us to deliver a true-to-meat experience that has been missing in the market.”