TurtleTree, a trailblazer in sustainable nutrition, and Vegan Action, the foremost vegan certification provider in the U.S., have jointly announced the official vegan certification of TurtleTree's animal-free sustainable lactoferrin, LF+. This groundbreaking achievement positions TurtleTree as the first precision fermentation dairy company worldwide to receive vegan certification and the inaugural recipient of the Certified Vegan logo in the 24-year history of its administration. This significant milestone underscores TurtleTree's unwavering dedication to animal welfare and its responsiveness to the evolving preferences of conscientious consumers.

While many precision fermentation products inherently exclude animal products or byproducts, the bioidentical nature of these products and the origins of the genetic codes necessary for their production can complicate interpretations, particularly when adhering to vegan standards initially devised for plant-based items. Obtaining regulatory approval necessitates rigorous safety testing, and some companies may opt for expedited, cost-effective animal studies, thereby forfeiting their eligibility for vegan certification. This contentious issue has deterred numerous precision fermentation companies from pursuing official certification, despite affirming their commitment to veganism and animal-free practices.

Fengru Lin, CEO and Co-Founder of TurtleTree, who will be speaking at SynBioBeta 2024, emphasizes TurtleTree's dedication to aligning words with actions: "With this certification, we are putting words into action and allowing that action to be validated by a third party. We want to build a food system that is sustainable and enables animals to live happier and healthier lives. As conscious consumers increasingly prioritize ethical choices, we aim to provide food and beverage brands with the unwavering confidence that our products align seamlessly with those evolving values."

Krissi Vandenberg, Director of Vegan Action, celebrates this alternative protein milestone. "We were thrilled to get TurtleTree's product Vegan Certified because of the clear benchmark this sets for the rest of the industry. TurtleTree's dedication to ethical practices and transparency is commendable and will undoubtedly inspire other precision fermentation companies. This certification demonstrates the tangible steps companies can take to validate and communicate their values to customers, underlining a collective commitment to ethical standards."

Amid projections forecasting the global vegan food market to reach $36 billion by 2031, the demand for certified vegan products continues to soar. With LF+ now bearing the coveted vegan certification, it is strategically positioned to cater to this burgeoning market and support major food and beverage companies in their quest for innovative, vegan-certified ingredients.