Swiss food-tech company Planted has added a fermented steak to its plant-based meat range, the first product to be created through its new ‘whole-muscle’ platform.
Planted, which produces clean label meat alternative products, has crafted the steak exclusively from natural ingredients including soya protein, rapeseed oil, bean and rice flours, as well as a blend of microbial cultures.
It is high in protein and fibre, low in saturated fat and offers essential micronutrients including vitamin B12 and iron. Thanks to Planted’s fermentation technology, it retains this clean label status while mimicking traditional whole-muscle meat cuts in taste and texture.
The product has launched into the European foodservice market, initially available at restaurants in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. It is slated for roll-out at retailers across Europe later this year.
Lukas Böni, co-founder of Planted and member of its executive board, said that the plant-based steak brings a first to the market as it is made with zero additives and achieves juiciness and tenderness while using only natural ingredients.
He commented: “In the research and development process, we have worked with over 50 gastronomy professionals to achieve a steak that is literally unreal, in taste, texture, application and overall eating experience. We are very proud that so many restaurants have added it to their menus already.”
Funding from the Swiss Innovation Agency in early 2023 has supported the development of Planted’s whole-muscle platform, enabling this latest launch alongside the opening of a new fermentation facility in Kemptthal, Switzerland.
Planted aims to create as many different product concepts as possible using the platform, where the muscle grows through a proprietary fermentation process. The whole-muscle is comparable to a full loin, allowing versatility and seamless adoption into existing meat processing.
Böni added: “This investment in our expansion stems from a strategic decision to enhance our biotechnology footprint in Kemptthal – from labs to production. Our aim is to introduce innovative products from our fermentation platform to the market fast, particularly our Planted.steak, which utilises the most advanced and disruptive fermentation technology today in terms of scalability, taste and product quality.”
The new production site, shared by various food-tech companies, has an eco-friendly energy system which uses the ambient air as an energy source. The air feeds the heat pumps, which provide heating and cooling in the buildings. According to EKZ, over a 30-year period, this will save more than 44,000 tonnes of CO2. The site has created 30 technical and operational jobs.
Additionally, according to Planted, production of its new steak requires 97% less CO2e emissions and 81% less freshwater consumption per product weight compared to its animal counterpart.
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