Remilk, an Israeli business, has been given authorization to sell its animal-free milk protein to dairy enterprises and other food companies in Canada. This allows them to market their version of the BLG (β-Lactoglobulin) protein, which is the major whey protein in cow’s milk. Health Canada assessed that the BLG protein generated by Remilk poses no more danger to human health than the whey protein from cow’s milk presently available on the Canadian market and has the same nutritional value.
The decision opens the door for a more resilient and environmentally conscious future, establishing a precedent for innovation in Canada’s approach to feeding its rising population. The US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) sent identical ‘no questions’ letters to Remilk and Perfect Day in 2020 and 2023, respectively. The market for animal-free milk manufacturing has grown in recent years, with Nestle teaming with Perfect Day in late 2022 to test product acceptance in experimental regions. Perfect Day reported in January 2024 that it had secured US$90 million in expansion investment, while France-based Bon Vivant disclosed an additional US$15.9 million in fundraising in October 2023.
In Canada’s conventional dairy sector, monthly milk sales by Canadian farmers have increased from the low 600,000 liter level in 2015 to the high 700,000 range by 2023. The Canadian government has announced an investment of up to $89 million in 49 projects around the country to minimize the effects of international trade agreements. Milk pasteurisers, ultrafiltration systems, and packaging robots are some project examples.
