The protein drink The New Milk, which was launched in November, has now reached the shelves of selected supermarkets in Israel. This is reported by the online publication Dairy News. The drink is produced without cows, using precision fermentation.

Behind the product are the Israeli dairy company Gad Dairies and the foodtech start-up Remilk, which uses precision fermentation – a technology in which microorganisms are programmed to produce milk proteins that are molecularly identical to those found in cow’s milk.

The result is a dairy-style drink designed to replicate the taste and functionality of traditional milk, but which is cow-free, lactose-free, cholesterol-free and more environmentally friendly. The producers call the product The New Milk, although this name would be unlikely to be permitted in the EU, where the term “milk” is legally protected and may only be used for milk that comes from the udder of an animal.

After more than ten years of research, this is the first time that this type of protein drink has been sold on a large scale to everyday consumers. The New Milk contains 3% fat and has been developed both for everyday household use and for professional applications in cafés and by baristas. The range includes, among other things, a barista version as well as drinking products with and without added flavour.

Remilk’s method is based on fermentation using specific yeast strains, which among other things produce the protein beta-lactoglobulin. The protein has been approved by authorities in several countries, including the United States, Israel, Canada and Singapore. The finished drink is also fortified with calcium, vitamins and dietary fibre, and contains less sugar than milk.

With sales now underway in supermarkets, Israel is positioning itself among the leading countries in next-generation dairy technology – and The New Milk could offer a glimpse of the dairy-style alternatives of the future, according to Dairy News.

Lene Mikkelsen Walsh
Source: Dairy News
Photo: Remilk