NEW TECH FOODS

Fermenta, a health and performance nutrition start-up, is set to introduce protein bars made with Solein in the US market, with consumer availability planned for Q1 2026.

The launch will make the products among the first Solein-based offerings available to US consumers.

According to Solar Foods, the developer of Solein, the protein ingredient offers a full essential amino acid profile, contains iron, vitamin B12 and 10% fibre and has no cholesterol or saturated fat.

Solein is produced through gas fermentation, which the company says enables a scalable production model with a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional protein sources such as soy, pea or whey.

Fermenta will release the products under its Gutsy brand, targeting demand for functional, gut-health-focused nutrition.

The bars will be gluten-free, animal-free and positioned as high-protein, vegan-friendly options with reduced sugar. A limited early batch is expected in early 2026.

Fermenta CEO John Gibb said the company aims to combine nutritional benefits with sustainability: “Solein is a groundbreaking new ingredient which supports our sustainability ambition and offers exceptional nutritional values with no compromise on taste”.

Solar Foods said Fermenta is among the first US partners to bring a commercial product to market using the ingredient. “Fermenta’s functional protein bars are one example of how Solein works in final products,” said Troels Nørgaard, chief commercial and product officer at Solar Foods.

Solar Foods has begun commercialising Solein in the US, initially focusing on the health and performance nutrition sector.

The company said it has signed multiple supply agreements and is working with customers to support product development. Solein-enabled foods have previously reached consumers in Singapore.