Tech and the Alternative Milk Justice League

What is Fermented Milk?

Glass of Milk?

Ok, so there's a new product on the market that vegetarians, flexitarians and some vegans are turning cartwheels for on the market.

Let’s talk about new genetically modified products entering the plant-based vegan friendly space.

Companies are doing what they deem is best to provide alternatives that help our environmental crisis.

It’s getting a little confusing for consumers out here. So, I will break down a new product hitting the grocery aisles in the U.S. Bored Cow @tryboredcow.

[Disclaimer: I have not tried it nor tested it in recipes. Just research like I do all products before consideration in my restaurants.]

This is what I sunmize based on my research on how the product is manufactured. It’s a summary not my professor research paper. Ok!

You be the judge on whether you try it or not. That’s up to you.

I am here to share tech in the vegan space. So let's get into it.

Bored Cow used a genetically identical whey protein that is made using precision fermentation (process). You take the DNA of cows milk’s byproduct and grow algae and fungi on it, take that and genetically modify as a powder them liquify and sell in mass production.

Here’s the process:

Take animal whey (liquid from acidified cows milk separated from the curds)

Grow microflora - bacteria and microscopic algae and fungi, especially those living in a particular site or habitat (same thing Quorn does). So if you allergic to animal milk don’t drink Bored Cow.(they said it not me)

Genetically modify it.

Wait, Chef. What does that mean?

Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology.

Then add new liquid source.

💡You can now call it plant-based alternative vegan friendly.

But it’s grandparent is still animal milk before the Incredible Hulk process.

Is casein in Bored Cow?

According to their website, The only “dairy” ingredient in Bored Cow is non-animal whey protein, which means our products are 100% lactose free. FDA approved it. Oh ok, FDA you say.

Last question:

Does Bored Cow (the cow I am assuming now can go unbothered because they soon won’t be needed for milking anymore) have to use animal milk to produce their product from stage one or do they have a back up supply of genetically modified bacteria, algae and fungi “microflora” (stuff that’s in your gut) that they reproduce to fulfill production in mass?

I will have to research further to find out the source.

So, I'm left in a conundrum. We want improvements in the area of food sources that cause no harm to animals and positively impact greenhouse gases. But, do we celebrate or do we question the innovation and the long term outcomes and biological effects?

Hummm....