Novel Foods and Alternative Proteins
As the alternative protein industry grows, so does the complexity of ensuring that these products are safe, compliant with the relevant legislation and ready for market. We're here to help you navigate the path - from analytical data for novel food authorisation to supply chain risk and detection of unsafe contaminants from any source.
Why it matters
Global demand for sustainably sourced or produced protein is accelerating and with it, the regulatory, safety and authenticity challenges facing producers of plant-based, insect, fermented and cultivated meat products. These novel products present new analytical challenges which Fera is well equipped to address.
Safety testing for novel proteins
The safety of any food product for entry to the market is paramount. Novel Foods authorisation requires rigorous safety evaluation. We support you through the process, providing the analytical evidence base needed for successful regulatory submissions. Novel foods can present unknown or unexpected hazards that routine targeted methods will not detect. Our non-targeted analytical approaches provide in-depth product characterisation, enabling the detection of unexpected compounds and biological species. This is essential for informed product development and for regulatory approval.
Non-targeted screening
We compare the compound profile of your product against reference fingerprints to assess authenticity, safety and quality - without the need to pre-select specific compounds of interest. This provides a comprehensive and unbiased view of your product’s composition.
Allergenicity assessment
Using advanced bioinformatic tools, we evaluate the potential allergenicity of novel products, helping you identify and mitigate risks where necessary.
Bespoke methods
We work with customers to develop and validate analytical methods for their novel products. These bespoke, expert services, support detailed product characterisation, as well as safety and stability assessments aligned with regulatory expectations.
Learn from our experts
We collaborate with specialists from across the alternative protein, regulatory and food safety sectors to explore the challenges facing this industry. See some examples here:
