Egg White Protein Without Hens
A new animal-free egg white protein has recently become available, representing an important development in food technology. Using a process called precision fermentation, yeast produces ovalbumin—the primary protein found in egg whites. The yeast is grown in fermentation tanks, where it produces the protein, which is then purified into a powder. No hens are used to produce it. One such product is the Animal-Free Egg White Protein Powder from Healthier Comforts, which uses OvoPro, a precision-fermented egg white protein developed by The EVERY Company.
While plant proteins such as pea or soy can provide many of the nutritional benefits of eggs, they do not offer all of the unique functional properties of egg whites. Animal-free egg protein is different. It is the same egg white protein, produced without hens. As a result, it offers the nutritional qualities and functional properties of conventional egg whites, including the ability to whip, foam, and bind ingredients in baking and cooking. Because it is the same protein found in egg whites, people with egg allergies should avoid it.
Although currently more expensive than conventional egg white protein and plant-based protein powders, animal-free egg protein is beginning to move beyond the laboratory and into commercial food production. For food manufacturers, its appeal extends beyond animal welfare, and commercial interest is growing. Because it is produced through precision fermentation rather than by hens, it offers manufacturers a more predictable supply that is not vulnerable to disruptions such as avian influenza outbreaks. It also has a long shelf life, does not require refrigerated shipping or storage, and provides the same functional properties manufacturers rely on for commercial food applications. As production expands and costs decline, it could become an increasingly attractive alternative for food manufacturers.
Animal-free egg protein is not a complete solution to the exploitation of hens, but it demonstrates that the unique properties of egg whites no longer have to depend on hens producing eggs. As more food manufacturers adopt compassionate alternatives, the possibility grows that millions of hens will no longer be bred and confined simply to produce eggs for human consumption.
In the hope that chickens will be better understood and respected by future
generations.
Illustration from Nature's Chicken by Nigel Burroughs