The Protein Brewery secures EU novel food approval for Fermotein mycelium ingredient

The Protein Brewery has secured authorization for its Fermotein mycelium ingredient under the European Union's Novel Food Regulation, marking the first time a novel mycelium ingredient has been approved for sale in the bloc.

• The Protein Brewery received EU Novel Food authorization for Fermotein, produced from Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium.
• The ingredient became the first novel mycelium ingredient approved under the EU Novel Food framework established by Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
• The company anticipated supplying 600 metric tons of Fermotein in 2027 from its production facility in Breda, the Netherlands.

The authorization represented a milestone for both The Protein Brewery and the wider biomass fermentation sector, establishing a regulatory pathway for whole-food mycelium ingredients within the European Union.

The European Commission approved the ingredient under the name Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium, rather than the originally proposed term Rhizomucor pusillus fungus biomass powder. According to the company, the designation more accurately reflected the ingredient's identity and provided clearer terminology for food manufacturers and consumers.

Fermotein has been authorized for use across a range of food and beverage applications targeting health and wellness markets, including protein powders, supplements, nutrition bars, dairy alternatives, and other better-for-you foods and beverages.

The approval followed a lengthy regulatory process that began when The Protein Brewery submitted its Novel Food dossier to the European Commission in May 2020. The company subsequently worked with both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission as the application progressed through the assessment process.

"We are pleased with the way we worked with the European Commission," said Dr Yvonne Dommels, Director of Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs at The Protein Brewery. "They were very open to host us in Brussels for a transparent conversation, and to discuss important points in the draft regulation together. That openness is exactly what European food innovators need. Today we are proud that we can finally sell Fermotein in our home country, and across Europe."

The authorization followed a positive scientific opinion published by EFSA on December 1, 2025, and a favorable vote by the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed on May 13, 2026.

The European Commission has adopted an Implementing Regulation authorizing the placing of Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium on the market as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 to add the ingredient to the Union list of authorized novel foods.

Once the regulation is published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enters into force, The Protein Brewery will be authorized to market Fermotein throughout the EU.

The company already sells Fermotein commercially in Singapore and the USA. With EU approval secured, it expected to supply 600 metric tons of the ingredient in 2027 from its facility in Breda, based on existing customer commitments across Europe, Singapore, and the US.

The Protein Brewery also reported plans to expand production capacity to more than 2,000 metric tons by 2029.

Fermotein is produced through biomass fermentation using Rhizomucor pusillus, a non-fruiting fungal species related to strains traditionally used in Asian fermented foods such as tempeh. According to the company, the ingredient contains approximately 50% complete protein, including all essential amino acids, alongside around 30% dietary fiber and naturally occurring micronutrients and bioactive compounds.

Under the authorization, The Protein Brewery received five years of data protection covering the scientific studies and safety data supporting the approval of Rhizomucor pusillus mycelium. The company also holds patents covering its production process.

The approval arrived as interest in mycelium-derived ingredients continued to grow across the alternative protein and functional nutrition sectors, where companies have increasingly explored fungal biomass as a source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients.

The Protein Brewery indicated that regulatory submissions were progressing in several other markets, including the UK, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand, with the first authorization outside the EU expected in the UK later this year.

The company has also recently received industry recognition for the ingredient. In May 2026, Fermotein won the Vitafoods Startup Challenge in the Most Innovative Sustainable Solution category.

For The Protein Brewery, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, the EU authorization opened access to its home market while providing a platform for broader commercial expansion across the region.

"Europe is our home market and supplying European customers directly from our Dutch factory is a turning point for the company," said Thijs Bosch, CEO of The Protein Brewery. "We see strong demand from leading and emerging EU brands looking for a single ingredient that delivers complete protein, fibre, and bioactives. We strongly believe Fermotein is uniquely positioned to support the next generation of nutrient-dense and sustainable foods that European consumers are asking for."