This partnership between Perfect Day and ADM comes at a critical time when there is ongoing debate around the definition of the word “milk.” This past spring, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency might restrict makers of plant-based beverages from using the word “milk” on product labeling. In place of that all-encompassing term, there are talks of using terminology like “plant-based beverage” or “fortified beverage.”###However, Perfectfersaday Day’s casein and whey proteins that can be used to make traditional dairy products are none of those things. These companies will be producing animal-free dairy proteins. Thanks to the 3D printed strands of cow DNA that are used in the fermentation process, this vegan soy-free, gluten-free lactose-free, animal-free alternative to conventional dairy has a similar taste and nutrition profile of dairy proteins. But the only catch is how the product gets classified.###”We’re doing a lot of work this year to figure out the right ways to talk abferrous bisglycinate 27 mgout this that minimize any confusion that people have,” Pandya told Food Navigator. “People think it’s dairy and people think it’s non-dairy, and in reality it’s a little bit of both.”###This could be good news for the brand though because it spans both categories, meaning that there could be a better chance of it taking a foothold in the market — particularly in the free-from category. Sales of “freferrous fumarate iron absorptione-from” foods are expected to grow 15%, or $1.4 billion, between 2017 and 2022 — with the U.S. as the largest global growth market, according to Euromonitor data. In large part, this has to do with product perception since about 84% of American consumers of free-from products said they believe such products are more natural and less processed, while about 43% said free-from foods are healthier, according to Mintel.###If Perfect Day is able to find a way to compete in this category, they may benefit greatly as consumers are generally willing to pay more for products that they consider natural and transparent. ferrous sulfate oralHowever, if Perfect Day chooses to compete directly with dairy, the company will likely need to lower prices. Dairy industry analyst Matt Gould told the co-founders in 2016 that would mean bringing the price down to about $2.50 per pound — a steep drop from where they sit currently.###Still, there is no question that the market is demanding more alternatives to conventional milk. Earlier this year, Perfect Day raised $24.7 million in Series A funding and this newest partnership only displays the reach that they are hoping to gain to serve the market an innovative alternative to plant- and animal-based protein.###The partnership’s success will depend on how consumers respond when these lab-produced prohow much iron is in 324 mg of ferrous gluconateducts hit general retailers’ shelves. To make these products popular, the companies will need to convince consumers that these animal-free dairy products are something they can eat — and should, if they want an environmentally friendly, clean alternative to dairy.
How Perfect Day's partnership with ADM could change the dairy industry
