Opinion: Chamber approves bill limiting the use of terms like 'meat' and 'milk' on plant-based product labels. Now what?
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved Bill 10556/2018, which prohibits the use of the word "milk" for products that are not of animal origin. The approved text also extends this prohibition to meat products, such as plant-based hamburgers and sausages. Because the bill was processed under an expedited procedure, it was voted on directly in plenary, bypassing the technical committees. Plant-based meat products will also be affected. Read also: Chamber limits the use of milk and meat names in plant-based products. Proponents of the bill argue that the measure protects consumers from potential deception at the time of purchase. However, research in Brazil and abroad shows that 97% of consumers know exactly what they are buying. In other words, the vast majority choose these products consciously, whether for health reasons, personal values, or environmental concerns. Read also: Plant-based labeling: see GFI's analysis of MAPA's Technical Note. Furthermore, institutions such as Embrapa, Anvisa, and the Ministry of Agriculture itself have already expressed technical opposition to this type of restriction, understanding that it could harm innovation and research developed in the country. This proposal could represent a setback for food innovation in Brazil. Alternative proteins are an important opportunity to add value to Brazilian agricultural chains, such as soy, beans, and nuts. Restricting the use of names that consumers already understand does not facilitate choice; on the contrary, it can generate more confusion and limit free competition. The bill goes to the Senate, where it will still be debated. If approved, it will go to the President of the Republic for sanction or veto. The important thing now is that the debate is technical, based on science and the interest of society. “There is a misconception that alternative proteins have come to replace animal-based proteins. However, this supposed competition does not exist. On the contrary, they are complementary markets. According to UN reports, around 300 million people go hungry every day in the world. In other words, before we think about competition, there are still many mouths to feed. A combination of solutions is needed, especially avoiding increased pressure on the use of land and natural resources. Hence the alternative proteins, which come to add even more value to Brazilian agriculture.” Alysson Soares, Head of Public Policy at GFI Brazil. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by The Good Food Institute Brasil (@thegoodfoodinstitutebrasil)
Participate in the Public Hearing on Contemporary Food Systems at the Joint Committee on Climate Change
On December 10th, at 12:14 pm, the Joint Committee on Climate Change will bring together representatives, senators, experts, and civil society for a public hearing on contemporary food systems. We will discuss the fundamental and strategic role of Contemporary Food Systems, focusing on alternative proteins and current challenges such as food security, socioeconomic development, climate change mitigation, the 30 Agenda, and NDCs. Regulatory measures will also be presented to ensure legal certainty, competitiveness, and the full development of this new sector. Participate: the hearing can be watched live on the Senate's YouTube page or on the committee's own page. It will also be recorded on these channels.
HISTORY: Cultivated meat comes to Hong Kong
Until recently, cultivated meat was only commercialized in two markets: Singapore and the United States. Now a third market has entered the scene: Hong Kong. Australian foodtech startup Vow, following the success of its launch in Singapore, has debuted its product made from Japanese quail, becoming the first company to sell cultivated meat in Asia’s largest financial hub. A gourmet touch with innovationVow's farmed quail is part of the company's premium brand, Forged, which is dedicated to innovative and refined foods. The first product launched was Forged Parfait, a combination of Japanese quail with garlic, onion, brandy and butter, resulting in a light and creamy pâté. Following regulatory approval in Singapore in March 2024, the dish arrived in Hong Kong and is now available at The Aubrey restaurant, a high-end izakaya located in the Mandarin Oriental. Additionally, another Vow product will make its Hong Kong debut: Forged Gras, inspired by foie gras. According to the company, this dish offers “a rich and satisfying experience”, consolidating the sophisticated appeal of its product line. Initial approval by the Singapore Food Agency was crucial to Vow’s entry into Hong Kong, CEO George Peppou highlighted. He explained that validation in Singapore served as a “strategic starting point” to meet the stringent standards of Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. As the first company to commercialize cultivated meat in multiple Asian markets, Vow’s rapid expansion underscores the benefits of regulatory alignment across countries — a goal GFI APAC has worked to promote. Harmonized regulations help reduce trade barriers, simplify entry into new markets and reduce costs, allowing startups to have faster approval times. What about the rest of China? While the Hong Kong launch is a milestone, access to the Chinese mainland market is still subject to regulatory approval in Beijing. Currently, there is no specific process for approving cultivated meat in mainland China. However, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment indicated that it is keeping pace with international developments and developing a robust regulatory framework for the safety assessment of these products. Meanwhile, the development of cultivated meat continues apace in the rest of the country. In April 2024, Beijing announced the creation of China's first scientific innovation center dedicated to cultivated meat and other alternative protein technologies, backed by an investment of 80 million yuan (about $11 million). Strategic Advances on the ContinentDuring the World Agrifood Innovation Conference, Qiang Fu, deputy head of Pinggu District in Beijing, reaffirmed his region's commitment to accelerating the development of alternative proteins. The event also marked the launch of the Beijing Alternative Protein Food Industry Alliance and featured a keynote address by Bruce Friedrich, founder of GFI. In August, GFI APAC co-hosted the first China-Singapore scientific symposium, bringing together academics, industry representatives and government officials. During the event, advances were shared in techniques such as the creation of hybrid products that combine cultured cells with plant proteins and the development of innovative bioreactors that reduce production costs through computer simulations. Also in August, Nanjing-based startup Joes Future Food pitched cultured pork to local authorities after receiving public funding to develop industrial-scale manufacturing methods. Similar support is being made available in several provinces through government initiatives. Most recently, Samuel Goh, GFI APAC Policy Manager, participated in the China International Food Safety and Quality Conference in Shanghai, where he highlighted Singapore’s innovative regulatory framework and explored opportunities to strengthen pan-Asia collaboration. Samuel Goh of GFI APAC highlighted Singapore’s regulatory leadership in Shanghai while advocating for greater regional collaboration. Looking to BeijingExperts from GFI APAC highlighted in a recent column in Nature that cultivated meat could follow a similar growth trajectory to solar power and electric vehicle batteries. However, this will depend on significant government investment to accelerate research and development, as well as increase manufacturing capacity. China already leads the world in public funding for agricultural research, investing twice as much as the United States and publishing the largest number of academic papers on the subject. Between 2003 and 2013, government investments helped increase grain, milk, meat and aquaculture production by between 20% and 50%. A similar effort in the cultivated meat sector could catalyze a revolution in the global food industry. The Future of Cultivated Meat in AsiaThe launch of cultivated meat in Hong Kong is a historic milestone, offering government leaders, business leaders and media representatives a tangible taste of the “food of the future.” The big question is whether this step will be the turning point to attract new investment in a growing sector. If China’s track record with emerging technologies is any indication, once cultivated meat gains traction in Asia’s largest market, transformative changes could happen, gaining momentum exponentially.
What can we expect for the alternative protein market in 2024?
Despite challenges across the macroeconomic landscape, geopolitical dynamics, financing, and infrastructure, the alternative protein industry shows signs of resilience. Experts from The Good Food Institute Brazil analyze the industry predictions that will drive the next wave of development toward mass consumer adoption. By 2024, the alternative protein market will experience significant transformations, driven by technological innovations, changing consumption patterns, and growing awareness about health and the environment. Based on some current trends, we can anticipate some directions this market will take throughout the year. Increased Product Variety The diversity of plant-based products available is expected to increase and serve consumers at all times of consumption, from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, whether with foods with a healthier appeal or more indulgent dishes. This expansion in variety not only covers a wider range of consumer preferences but also facilitates the adoption of plant-based foods in the daily diet, making it a viable option for a wider audience. Strategic partnerships and market consolidation Strategic partnerships between food companies and restaurants can contribute to the expansion of plant-based options on menus. These types of partnerships are very common in other countries, where the market is more mature, and these experiences show that such collaborations can increase both the accessibility and visibility of these alternatives. Furthermore, brand consolidation is expected, driven by retail demand, keeping on the shelves products and brands that offer the sensory experience closest to what the consumer wants in terms of taste, texture and appearance of food. Technological advancement Technological development will continue to be a driver of innovation for the sector, bringing products with better sensory performance. Innovations in ingredients and processing techniques are expected to offer more satisfying consumer experiences. In particular, ingredients developed through fermentation processes may attract more attention from the sector, given their ability to improve the nutritional and sensory profile of products. Greater focus on health Companies already established in the alternative protein market must continue to emphasize health in their launches and relaunches. Formulations that meet the demands for less cholesterol, sodium, and fat, as well as the inclusion of natural ingredients familiar to consumers, will become increasingly common. This focus on health reflects a direct response to consumer concerns and an attempt to align plant-based products with expectations of health and well-being benefits. Price The issue of price remains central, with the industry striving to make plant-based products more accessible. This involves increased investment in local supply chains, the development of new ingredients and processes, and continued efforts to reduce production and logistics costs. Such initiatives are essential to equalize or at least bring the price range of plant-based products closer to that of their animal-based counterparts, making them a viable option for a wider range of the population. Challenges for the Sector Despite optimistic forecasts, the sector faces significant challenges related to the points mentioned above: a) attracting more consumers: the adoption of plant-based foods in the diet is a question for many, especially when we consider concerns about the healthiness and nutritional perception surrounding plant-based foods; b) comparing the price of these products with those of animal origin: it is essential to find a balance between production costs and the purchasing power of the population, which faces the effects of inflation – including in the food sector. Companies in the sector need to work to close this gap, demonstrating that it is possible to offer plant-based options that are not only competitive in price and quality, but are also perceived as nutritious and beneficial to health. Regulatory advances: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) should follow the regulatory agenda on the production and labeling of plant-based products, holding public hearings throughout the year to discuss the draft of the Ordinance that was submitted for public consultation in 2023, and which proposes a regulatory framework to address the lack of a minimum regulation for plant-based analog products. Furthermore, with the inclusion of proteins obtained through cell culture and fermentation in the list of new ingredients and foods by Anvisa at the end of last year, through Resolution RDC No. 839, we should also observe this year the beginning of regulatory discussions on these two technologies, spearheaded by MAPA and Anvisa itself. Cultivated Meat and Fermentation: With ANVISA Resolution 839, which guides companies on submitting products and ingredients for safety verification and authorization for the use of new foods and new ingredients, it is expected that companies already developing these new foods will present their products and ingredients for ANVISA's evaluation. Additionally, we should also see more companies holding product tasting and application events for specific audiences, such as investors and the press. These are the first steps towards commercializing these new technologies in Brazil. It is now up to the Ministry of Agriculture to regulate issues related to product registration, labeling, and inspection of production units, a debate that should begin this year. “The plant-based market in 2024 is expected to be characterized by greater product diversity, brand consolidation, strategic partnerships, technological advancements, a renewed focus on healthiness, and continued efforts to make products more accessible. The regulatory advances achieved at the end of 2023 demonstrate that Brazil is aligning with the rest of the world in understanding that this sector will evolve rapidly and that it is necessary to create strict technical standards so that innovative products can begin to be produced in the country. This is also the year that products made with fermentation technologies and cultivated meat are expected to reach consumers. We will monitor how these foods will be incorporated into Brazilian eating habits.” - Raquel
Cultivated meat in Brazil in 2024?
Check out GFI Brasil's analysis on the regulation of foods made from cell culture and precision fermentation. On December 18, 2023, Anvisa published Resolution RDC No. 839, which regulates the registration of innovative foods and ingredients, including those from cell culture and fermentation. This regulatory framework, which comes into effect on March 16, 2024, places Brazil in a prominent position internationally, paving the way for attracting investments in sustainable food innovations, and also brings us ever closer to launching products made from these two technologies later this year. The regulation has a broad scope, encompassing safety assessment criteria for all new foods and ingredients, defined as those without a consumption history in the country for at least 25 years. This achieves many of the diverse innovations that food engineering presents to us every day and represents an important step towards regulating cultivated meat in Brazil. In the regulation, the agency defines all the steps and requirements necessary for companies producing cultivated meat and its ingredients to present data that guarantees that these products are safe for the consumer. The technical document to be submitted for evaluation by the agency must contain the methods for screening, selection, preparation and maintenance of cell lines, a description of the production process and the composition of the culture medium, and the nutritional composition of the products obtained. "This move by Anvisa indicates that cultivated meat is safe as food if produced within strict technical standards." In order for companies to start producing in Brazil, it is now up to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to define the complementary regulations, which include product registration, its labeling rules and the inspection regulations for production units. We hope this will happen throughout 2024, because this market will advance quickly in the world”, says Alysson Soares, senior specialist in Public Policies at GFI Brazil. With the publication of this regulation, Anvisa stands alongside other regulatory agencies, such as EFSA in the European Union, the USDA/FDA partnership in the United States, SFA in Singapore and NFS in Israel, as pioneers in realizing the importance of defining a regulatory framework for cultivated meat that is based on science and favorable to innovation and investment. The scientific studies developed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) over the last two years were of fundamental importance for this positioning of the main global regulatory agencies. Regarding this, the Vice President of Public Policies at GFI Brazil, Alexandre Cabral, adds that “it is very significant that Brazil, one of the most important countries in the global food production scenario, states that cultivated meat is safe at a time when several countries are taking legislative action to prohibit or limit the advancement of this technology”. GFI Brazil has been promoting this debate in Brazil since 2018, when it promoted the first seminar within the Brazilian government on cultivated meat. Since then, he has been contributing to the topic in Brazil and abroad, through participation in expert groups and the publication of regulatory and scientific studies.
MAPA opens Public Consultation to establish minimum identity and quality requirements for plant-based analogue products.
The publication of the regulatory framework proposal marks a new stage in the process of discussing the regulation of plant-based products, which has been taking place in Brazil and around the world in recent years. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) opened, on July 3, 2023, a Public Consultation to establish the minimum requirements for identity, quality, labeling rules and the obligation to register with MAPA for analogous plant-based products. A Public Consultation is a transparency mechanism that can be used by the Public Administration to obtain information, opinions and criticisms from society regarding a given topic. The objective of this tool is to encourage public participation in issues of collective interest, broaden the discussion on the subject and support the decisions of public policy makers. In the case of this Ordinance (SDA/Mapa nº 831/2023), contributions can be sent until September 15th. The objects of the Public Consultation are plant-based analogue food products (including beverages) formulated exclusively with ingredients of plant, fungal or algal origin and which seek to achieve similarity in appearance, texture, flavor and other attributes to traditional products of animal origin, such as meat and meat products, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products. Although there are already regulations for industrialized and processed foods, which are also applied to products of plant origin, to date there is no specific standard in Brazil for plant-based products, especially with regard to identification and nomenclature standards. The topic has been under discussion since 2019 at MAPA, with active participation from GFI Brasil. In 2022, Anvisa held virtual workshops to prepare Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on plant-based foods. At the time, it was concluded that the biggest regulatory obstacle was the asymmetry of information in the market for this type of food. According to Anvisa, this problem has national and international implications and can be characterized as a market failure related to guaranteeing the consumer's fundamental right to adequate and clear information about different products and services, specifying their characteristics, composition, and risks. Thus, with Ordinance SDA/Mapa No. 831/2023, MAPA takes on the discussion and establishes the proposal for a regulatory framework to address the lack of minimum regulations for plant-based analogue products. For Alexandre Cabral, Director of Public Policy at GFI Brazil, the regulatory framework proposed by MAPA calls for discussions on important details such as terminology and labeling of plant-based products in the country. “Not having rules means walking in uncertainty, and consultation will contribute to the development of the sector.” The regulatory proposal includes the following central provisions: Regarding product registration, they must be registered with the Department of Inspection of Products of Plant Origin (Dipov) and include the seal established by MAPA on their labeling. Plant-based products must also meet certain quality requirements: they must use ingredients authorized by specific legislation; be free of substances that are harmful to health; meet the microbiological standards established by specific legislation; be produced in accordance with good manufacturing practices and free from strange odors. This proposal, as currently in place, allows plant-based products to display terms such as “meat,” “cheese,” and “milk” on their labels, as long as they are accompanied by the expression “plant-based analogue of,” a subject that was controversial last year when former minister Marcos Montes took an emphatic stance against the use of these classic terms on plant-based analogue products. Institutions and individuals interested in submitting technically-based suggestions to the Public Consultation can collaborate through the Regulatory Acts Monitoring System (Sisman), until September 15, 2023. To access the platform, the user must first register in the Access Request System. To access Sisman, the user must first register in the Access Request System – Solicita do Mapa.
GFI Celebrates FDA Green Light for Yet Another Cultivated Meat Company
This time, the beneficiary is the company GOOD Meat, which already sells its products in Singapore, where cultivated meat was already regulated two years ago. Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has favorably completed its review of the safety of GOOD Meat products. This pre-market consultation comes just months after the FDA gave the same approval to UPSIDE Foods' cultured chicken, the first cultivated meat product to reach that milestone in the U.S. The FDA's rigorous analysis and unquestioned approval corroborate the information that has been gathered in studies related to the safety of cultivated meat products. The process until the product is released for commercialization still has a few more steps that involve other agencies, but this news is an important historical move that demonstrates that the path will continue to open so that consumers can access these products in restaurants and retail in the USA. This second approval indicates that the products are reaching the market without raising doubts about their safety (both in terms of production methods and the final product), which could serve as inspiration for other regulators, as no one would like to see their country falling behind in technology. “We are delighted to see that GOOD Meat’s cultured chicken – which has been enjoyed by thousands of customers in Singapore over the past few years – is now on track to expand to the US. Amid growing demand for food and dwindling natural resources, increasing the production and distribution of alternative proteins on both sides of the Pacific has never been more urgent. This week’s FDA green light opens the door for regulatory and scientific collaboration between two of the world’s leading innovation hubs (the US and Singapore) and takes cultivated meat one step closer to becoming a truly global business,” Mirte Gosker, Managing Director of The Good Food Institute APAC. “Today’s news is more than just another regulatory decision – it’s food system transformation in action. Consumers and future generations deserve to eat the food they want, but made in more sustainable ways that preserve our land and water, protect our climate and global health, and ensure food security.” Bruce Friedrich, President of The Good Food Institute. “This positive signal from the FDA regarding the production process of cultivated meat can be read as a move by the United States to position itself at the forefront of an industry that should, in the coming decades, move billions of dollars and revolutionize the way humanity eats. It is necessary for Brazilian public agents to pay attention and speed up the regulatory process here too, so that Brazil does not fall behind and consolidates itself as soon as possible as one of the main players in this emerging global market", Alysson Soares, Public Policy specialist at GFI Brazil. For more information, see: What the FDA Evaluated During the First Completed Pre-Market Consultation What is Cultivated Meat and How is it Produced? Cultivated meat is animal meat produced by cultivating animal cells. Cell cultivation is carried out by reproducing the biological process that occurs inside animals and the resulting cultivated meat is composed of the same cell types that are part of animal muscle tissue, so it can reproduce the sensory and nutritional profile of beef, chicken, seafood or other conventionally produced meat products. From a single cell, successive multiplications in bioreactors and subsequent differentiation and maturation, it is possible to produce meat on an industrial scale. To learn more about this technology, check out our resources. Supporting material/Sources:
For FDA, plant-based milk can be called milk
The agency has put a new regulatory draft out for public consultation and will accept comments until April 24, 2023. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published, on February 22, 2023, a regulatory draft indicating that plant-based beverages (made from soy, oats and almonds, for example) should continue to use the term “milk” on the label. Getting straight to the point, the agency stated that these products do not mislead the American consumer, who knows they are buying a plant-based beverage, not an animal-derived one, and recommends that manufacturers clearly label their products by the plant source of the food (such as “soy milk,” “oat milk,” etc.). According to the preliminary guidelines, the FDA also considers that, to be called “milk”, the product must meet a quality criterion that includes nutritional aspects (such as the amount of proteins, vitamins and fiber) and not the source of production (animal or vegetable). This was a move that ran counter to what some sectors of American industry had imagined and indicates that the FDA is looking to the future. For years, legislators in dairy states have tried to pass bills that would require the FDA to enforce a federal standard that defines "milk" only as the product of "milking one or more healthy cows." And here in Brazil it is no different: according to the president of GFI Brazil, Gus Guadagnini, “with more recognition and government support, the animal-based dairy alternatives industry can continue to grow and expand, offering consumers more healthy and sustainable options in the future. Brazil can be a global leader in this industry and thus generate many jobs and tax revenue. To achieve this, we also need a fair regulatory framework that exists in the interests of consumers, not anti-competitive industry protectionism.” Alexandre Cabral, vice president of public policy at GFI Brazil, adds: “The government’s role is to reduce the risk associated with regulatory uncertainty. To this end, we consider it appropriate for Anvisa to evaluate the issuance of a Technical Labeling Report on the subject.” The FDA will accept comments and suggestions in the public consultation until April 23, when it will begin work on the final version of the labeling recommendation. The content of this and other FDA documents is intended to provide clarity to the public and should be viewed as recommendations. However, even though they are not mandatory, these labeling recommendations indicate that the agency's assessment aligns with several studies showing that consumers consciously purchase plant-based products. The guidelines in this document do not apply to dairy products other than beverages, such as yogurt – the FDA is developing a guidance project to address the labeling and nomenclature of other plant-based alternative products and will communicate updates when available.
Cultivated meat market advances in Latin America
Learn about Brazilian initiatives for the production of cultivated meat, involving large companies, universities, and institutes. The cultivated meat industry is experiencing rapid expansion, with the number of players in the sector becoming increasingly larger. Currently, there are around 70 companies and startups worldwide, and this growth trend is expected to continue, according to a survey carried out by the Good Food Institute. In 2021, this cultivated meat market received investments of USD 1,4 billion. A significant step in the advancement of the cultivated meat market in Latin America has just been taken by Granja Tres Arroyos. The Argentine company, a leader in food production in the country, has just announced its entry into the segment through a technical partnership with the Biotechnology Research Institute of the National University of San Martin. R&D efforts began a year ago and the goal is to have a pilot plant in the next two years. For the cultivated meat sector to reach commercial scale at affordable prices for consumers, significant investments in research and a robust production structure are required. It is this know-how that Granja Tres Arroyos and its 50 years of experience in the meat sector are bringing to this market. This is not the first initiative in the field of protein cultivation in the country. Argentina hosted the first tasting of cultivated meat in South America in July 2021. The feat was the result of research by the startup BIFE, from the bioengineering division of the Craveri Laboratory, and was carried out privately. The tasting served as an initial proof of concept, with no prospect of reaching the production stage for the market yet. Argentina's commitment to protein cultivation confirms the downward trend in meat consumption in the country, which has reached its lowest level in 100 years. This movement has the potential to impact the supply chain on a global scale, as Argentina is the largest per capita meat consumer among emerging countries, according to data from CiCarne. “With the combined efforts of the private sector and government agents, especially research institutes and regulatory agencies, it is possible to motivate the flow of capital and stimulate the development of researchers and professionals dedicated to this area that is so strategic for Latin America,” says Raquel Casseli, Corporate Engagement Manager at GFI Brazil. In his opinion, could Latin America lead the way in the global cultivated meat sector in the coming years? “Major players, especially in Brazil, have imported technology and built large laboratories so that in the future it will be possible to produce cultivated meat on a large scale. It's a 100m sprint. It’s a scientific marathon,” says the expert. Learn more about initiatives in Brazil: Brazil has the favorable conditions to become a leader in this industry, and there are already major Brazilian companies implementing initiatives to make cultivated meat a reality on consumers' plates. JBS will invest R$325 million over the next four years to develop cultivated meat through its Biotech Innovation Center. In fact, its food innovation center in Brazil has open positions for scientists in various areas related to food innovation through the Advanced Biotechnology Specialists program, which focuses on the production of cultivated meat. In the field of startups, the latest news couldn't be more exciting. Ambi Real Foods, which was founded with the promise of becoming the first Brazilian company to produce cultivated meat using entirely Brazilian technology, has just produced its first prototype beef burger, using entirely Brazilian technology. Sustinieri Pisces, a startup that also aims to be a pioneer in the production of farmed fish in Brazil, has completed the development stage of cell banks for five fish species: Grouper, Grouper, Sea Bass, Flounder and Mullet. “We are producing the Work Banks and will begin the process of using bioreactors to produce a prototype (breaded fish) by the first quarter of 2023,” says Marcelo Szpilman, executive director of Sustinieri Pisces. Additionally, the first cell culture company focused on developing cultivated pork fat, Cellva, has just entered the market. According to the company, “Cellva technology will provide substantially healthier animal fat, completely safe from contamination than traditional pork fat, with the exact flavor, texture and aroma.” The product may be incorporated into products of animal origin, cultivated or made from plants. The development of other foods from cell culture is also in the plans. In the academic field, cultivated meat has also attracted the attention of more and more researchers and generated the first results. Project coordinated by Prof. Dr. Aline Bruna da Silva from the Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais (CEFET MG) in partnership with the Federal University of Minas Gerais, has just produced the first prototype of cultured structured chicken meat. The research that gave rise to the prototype (Hybrid scaffolds for cultivated chicken) was funded by the Good Food Institute, through the Research Incentive Program. Using 3D printing technology, SENAI CIMATEC is developing cultivated meat and the tests carried out so far seek to create formulations to achieve the texture, appearance and flavor of conventional meat. In partnership with GFI Brazil, UFPR, through the Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, has already trained 107 students in the introductory course on cellular animal science, dedicated to the study of cultivated meat. The next step will be to develop the product in the laboratory. Senai Dr. School Celso Charuri began offering a course on cultivation techniques with mammalian cell lines, with the aim of developing skills related to the cultivation of cell lines. At the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), the course “Alternative Proteins: Made from Plants, Fermentation and Cultivated Meat” is now offered within the Graduate Program of the Faculty of Food Engineering. The goal is to empower students by presenting the technical and scientific fundamentals of proteins.
Government publishes Decree guaranteeing exemption from IPI for plant-based beverages
In May of this year, the Government included in the Tax Incidence Table for Industrialized Products (TIPI) a specific classification for plant-based beverages, previously classified only as "other." In addition, it also zeroed the tax rate for this type of product, which was 2,6%. However, in July, when publishing the new, updated and consolidated TIPI, due to a technical error, plant-based beverages were not included. The Government announced the revision through Decree 11.182/2022, which reestablishes the zero-rate Tax on Industrialized Products (IPI) for plant-based beverages. ➡️ If your company or business partners have any questions regarding this topic, our team is available to discuss this matter via email: politicas@gfi.org