CHICAGO / July 30, 2024 — The world’s first fish-free seafood made through fermentation has been determined safe for human consumption.
AQUA Cultured Foods, the Chicago-based alternative protein company specializing in fish-free seafood, has self-affirmed that its cellulose-based product is Generally Recognized as Safe (“GRAS“) following a recent review by an independent panel of qualified scientific and toxicology experts.
GRAS Independent Conclusion gives AQUA Cultured Foods the green light to sell its products to be consumed in the U.S.
Cellulose is the main ingredient of AQUA’s fish-free seafood, with tuna and scallops launching first. Grown through biomass fermentation, cellulose is a true texture hero that allows AQUA’s products to closely replicate traditional seafood’s appearance and mouthfeel. The products are clean-label with very minimal ingredients. AQUA Scallops are simply water, cellulose, and plant-derived flavors to mimic the oceanic notes of scallops. AQUA Tuna includes a natural, beet-derived color to match the deep ruby red of fresh Ahi or Bluefin tuna. AQUA Cultured Foods’ products require nothing from the ocean and use very few resources to create a scalable, sustainable food product.
AQUA products are vegan, allergen-free, and contain a good source of fiber. Plus, they have a six-week shelf life. With AQUA, seafoodies can enjoy seafood without compromise or the baggage of our polluted oceans.
“Fermentation is a growing pillar of the alternative protein industry, and biomass fermentation in particular is poised to scale,” said Brittany Chibe, Co-Founder and CEO. “Fermentation-enabled meat brands like Meati and Chunk Foods have already taken off—we’re excited to bring that momentum to seafood.”
From its pilot facility in Chicago, AQUA will be sold directly to restaurants at a lower cost than traditional raw tuna and scallops.
“AQUA’s products not only match the taste and texture of traditional seafood but will be sold at price parity to raw seafood at wholesale. By targeting premium, raw cuts of seafood, we can achieve positive unit economics, which is largely unheard of at our scale,” Chibe adds. “Achieving self-GRAS status brings us one step closer to feeding the world’s growing population and healing our oceans. AQUA has been years in the making, and this milestone allows us to finally share the delicious products that our team has been working so hard on creating. Tasting is believing, and I can’t wait to fill everyone’s plates with AQUA Tuna and Scallops.”
