Finnish biotechnology company Enifer has filed an application with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), seeking Novel Food approval for its mycoprotein ingredient, dubbed PEKILO.
Through the Novel Food approval, the company aims to bring a nature-friendly protein to the European food market.
Earlier this year, Enifer raised €33m in funding to build its first manufacturing facility, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025.
The new facility is expected to upcycle food industry side streams to produce up to 3,000 tons of sustainable fungi-based protein each year.
PEKILO mycoprotein is a nutrient-rich ingredient with protein and fibre and is suitable for use in a wide range of food products ranging from alternative meats to baked goods.
It is produced through a special fermentation process that involves a unique strain of fungus, and similar methods used in brewing or producing soy sauce.
According to Enifer, the PEKILO fermentation process was originally developed in Finland in the 1970s, to upcycle byproducts from the forest industry into animal feed ingredients.
PEKILO was used as feed for more than 15 years, as a source of protein for livestock, particularly pigs and poultry.
In the studies conducted late 1970s and 1980s, the product showed potential for human consumption, with confirmed suitability for human nutrition.
However, in the 1990s, PEKILO was discontinued due to technical advancements in the forest industry, as suitable side streams were no longer available.
Enifer said it has refined the manufacturing technology with new raw material streams from the food and agricultural sectors, developing PEKILO as a food ingredient for human consumption.
Enifer ingredient development manager Elisa Arte said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue the work that visionary scientists began in the 1980s and to take this vital step towards bringing PEKILO to the market as a food ingredient.
“Our team has worked hard to compile the data needed to demonstrate PEKILO’s safety for human consumption, and we’re looking forward to starting the approval process with EFSA.”
In the EU, PEKILO is considered a novel ingredient with a distinct production process, requiring evaluation and approval under the EU’s Novel Food regulations.
With the application submitted, which could take several years, Enifer plans to pursue GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status in the US and seek novel food approval in Singapore.
To launch PEKILO, the company is collaborating with partners worldwide, including Skretting, Purina in the pet food industry, and Valio for consumer food products.
Arte added: “With the application now submitted, we’re excited to shift our focus on developing innovative products with our partners. PEKILO has already shown remarkable versatility, and the possibilities are limited only by imagination.”
