Imagindairy, a producer of animal-free milk proteins made using precision fermentation, has received regulatory approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health. The approval confirms that Imagindairy’s products are safe for consumer use and allows the company to market them within Israel.
Imagindairy’s products are identical to cow’s milk proteins in taste and nutritional value, but are made without the use of animals. They can be used to produce a variety of animal-free dairy products, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream; these have a much lower environmental impact than conventional dairy products, and are also free of cholesterol, lactose, and hormones.
The regulatory approval in Israel comes after Imagindairy’s animal-free whey protein achieved self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status in the US last year. This means that the ingredient is considered safe by the FDA for use in food and beverages, and has opened up opportunities for collaborations with companies looking to enter the US animal-free dairy space.
At around the same time, Imagindairy also announced the opening of its new custom-designed headquarters near Haifa, Israel, designed to support the company in its next growth phase. The site features offices, a state-of-the-art R&D laboratory, a test kitchen, and a pilot line for larger-scale testing.
Sustainable food solutions
Earlier this year, Imagindairy announced a partnership with US biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks to develop a new wave of high-quality animal-free dairy proteins at lower costs. The companies received a joint grant from the Board of Governors of the Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation to partially fund the multi-year program.
Since its foundation in 2020, Imagindairy has raised over $30 million from investors, including an undisclosed sum from the corporate venture arm of dairy giant Danone last year.
“The Ministry of Health’s approval to market our products in Israel is a significant milestone for the company, demonstrating the safety of our quality milk proteins,” said Dr. Eyal Afergan, CEO of Imagindairy. “We are excited to bring our products to the Israeli market and provide consumers with a quality, healthy dairy experience, without reliance on animals. This approval unlocks additional marketing opportunities and allows us to continue developing sustainable food solutions.”
