Safe precision fermentation for production of dairy and meat protein analogues (SAFERMENT)

The SAFERMENT project aims to identify and analyse potential food safety hazards in food production chains of dairy and meat protein analogues based on precision fermentation, from the substrate to the end-product and consumer. An inventory and assessment of the potential hazards will aid stakeholders in this field to develop safe production chains and end products derived from precision fermentation. The focus will be on genetically modified micro-organisms (GMMs) that produce analogues of dairy and meat proteins, and the proposed research will address food safety as an integral part of the safety culture surrounding innovative fermentation-based production methods and novel food development and manufacturing.

The specific food safety aspects that will be addressed in this project are 1) the allergenic properties of recombinant dairy and meat protein analogues, 2) differences in protein modifications between recombinant analogues and natural variants of dairy and meat proteins and how this might be used in food authentication, 3) the presence of recombinant genetic material in protein fractions to be used in novel food products, 4) hazard identification and risk analysis in production chains of dairy and meat protein analogues, and 5) consumer risk perception for the consumption of novel food products containing animal-free dairy/meat proteins produced using GMMs. 

Outcomes from the project will contribute to the implementation of safe production chains for recombinant dairy and meat protein analogues and their safe use as food ingredients. Identification of safety issues in the production chains and how to address them will be of importance for both producers and end-users of these food ingredients. The project will also provide an overview of consumer attitudes towards products containing animal-free yet recombinant dairy and meat protein analogues. The outcomes of this project will thus be important for safe and successful commercialisation of recombinant animal-free dairy and meat protein analogues.