The Israeli foodtech company Imagindairy, which develops milk proteins without the use of animals, announced that it received approval from the Health Ministry to market its products in Israel. The approval announced on Monday allows the company to expand its activities and offer its products to consumers in Israel, following the approval it received from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year, which allows it to market its products in the U.S. as well. It is not yet known when the company's products will actually reach store shelves here.
Imagindairy uses advanced precision fermentation technology to produce milk proteins identical in taste, texture and nutritional values to cow's milk proteins but without dependence on animals.
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Israeli foodtech company Imagindairy gets go-ahead to market its products in Israel
(Photo: Yaniv Kopel)
The process is based on mushrooms and enables the production of diverse dairy products, including cheeses, yogurts, milk and ice creams, while avoiding cholesterol, lactose and hormones found in milk that comes from animals. In addition, the production significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water use and land utilization, making it an environmentally friendly solution with the potential to have a wide impact on the food industry.
And as always when it comes to new food-related technology, even one that has received approval from the strictest health organizations, the question of safety arises. "Our goal in the national food service in the Ministry of Health is first of all to balance the promotion of innovation in Israel, with the preservation of public health," Dr. Ziva Hamma, director of the food-risk management department in the Health Ministry told Ynet.
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Dr. Ziva Hamma, director of the food-risk management department in the Health Ministry
(Photo: Tali Melamed)
"The approval of new/alternative proteins is another step in this direction, which opens up new possibilities for sustainability and a wider variety of products for the Israeli consumer. We continue to work in cooperation with the industry to ensure that every product meets the strictest safety standards," she added.
Dr. Eyal Efergan, CEO and founder of the company, called the Health Ministry approval to market the products a "significant step" for the company. "We are excited to bring our products to the Israeli market and provide consumers with a high-quality and healthy milk experience. The approval opens up additional marketing opportunities for us and allows us to continue developing sustainable food solutions - an issue that is becoming more and more important in light of Israel's need for nutritional security, which will ensure a continuous and independent supply of food to its residents."
Jonathan Berger, CEO of Strauss' The Kitchen FoodTech Hub, noted that the approval from the Health Ministry "is a significant milestone not only for Imagindairy but also for the entire Israeli foodtech industry. This is another step that brings breakthrough technology closer to the consumer's store shelf. We are proud to accompany the company and its team."
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Imagindairy produces milk proteins identical in taste, texture and nutritional values to cow's milk proteins without using animals
(Photo: Courtesy of Imagindairy)
Shmulik Heifetz, a founding partner in the Target Global Fund, added: "Receiving regulatory approval in Israel is further proof of Imagindairy's strength and its tremendous potential in the market. We are proud to be partners in the revolutionary path that leads to the production of milk proteins in a sustainable way."
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The company was founded in 2020 by Efergan, Dr. Aryeh Abu and Professor Tamir Toler, as part of the Strauss Group's foodtech incubator The Kitchen. Since its establishment, the company has raised over $30 million from leading investors, including the food giants Danone and Strauss, alongside notable funds such as Target Global, Entree Capital and MoreVC.
Imagindairy is one of a handful of companies that received approval from the FDA to market in the U.S. dairy products that are based on proteins created using the process of fermentation. One of them is the Israeli company Remilk, which received approval from the FDA in June 2022 and approval from the Israeli Health Ministry in April 2023. Remilk is expected to soon launch dairy products based on its proteins in collaboration with Tara, another company that has already received approval from the FDA.