Oobli, a protein ingredient supplier, recently announced that it has received a letter of no-questions from the FDA for its sweet protein, monellin. This means that the novel protein has earned FDA Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status, allowing it to be used in food products without requiring premarket approval from the FDA. With this achievement, Oobli is set to start partnering with food brands in the upcoming year.
In addition to this milestone, Oobli has expanded its Board of Directors by adding Heather Malenshek and Geoffrey Duyk MD, PhD. This move aims to enhance the company’s tech leadership and expertise in the industry.
Monellin, derived from the serendipity berry in West Africa, is approximately 2000 times sweeter than sucrose. As the demand for alternative sweeteners continues to grow, with the market projected to reach $14.71 billion by 2029, there is a need for non-carbohydrate artificial sweeteners. Monellin presents a viable option for food companies looking to reduce sugar content in their products.
CEO of Oobli, Ali Wing, highlighted the increasing consumer interest in healthier sweeteners, driving the demand for alternatives like monellin. Despite its high sweetness concentration, monellin is low in calories, making it a cost-effective option to replace sugar in various food and beverage applications.
While naturally occurring monellin has limitations such as an aftertaste and sensitivity to high temperatures, Oobli’s precision fermentation process produces a pure monellin protein without these drawbacks. This pure form of monellin can be used in a wide range of food products, from baked goods to dairy items.
Looking ahead, Oobli envisions monellin being utilized as a sweetener in bars, cakes, cookies, drink mixes, and dairy products. The company’s innovative approach to producing monellin opens up opportunities for its incorporation into various food categories.
This recent achievement marks the second no-questions letter Oobli has received this year, with the first being for another sweet protein, Brazzein, also derived from a native West African berry. Oobli’s commitment to developing novel sweet proteins through precision fermentation showcases its dedication to providing innovative solutions to the food industry.
