Nourish Ingredients

Nourish Ingredients is an Australian ingredients company founded in 2019 in Canberra by former CSIRO lipid scientists James Petrie and Ben Leita, using precision fermentation to grow animal-free fats. It addresses a specific formulation problem for plant-based and hybrid meat and dairy brands: removing animal fat also removes much of the meaty or creamy flavour and mouthfeel that fat normally provides.

The company ferments microorganisms engineered to produce specific lipid molecules, which are purified into ingredients such as Tastilux, a phospholipid that restores meaty aroma and flavour in plant-based meat, and Creamilux, a short-chain lipid emulsifier that adds dairy-like mouthfeel to plant-based and hybrid dairy products. Both are designed for use at low inclusion rates so manufacturers can add them without redesigning existing formulations, and the company has supplied partners including Fonterra and Cabio.

1. Precision fermentation: engineered microorganisms produce specific lipid molecules instead of extracting fat from animals.

2. Tastilux ingredient: a phospholipid that restores meaty aroma and flavour in plant-based meat products.

3. Creamilux ingredient: a short-chain lipid emulsifier that adds dairy-like mouthfeel to plant-based and hybrid dairy products.

4. Low inclusion rate: both ingredients are designed to work at small dosages without requiring formulation redesign.

5. Commercial availability: Tastilux is listed as available to order now for food manufacturers integrating it into formulations.

6. Manufacturer partnerships: supplies ingredient partners including Fonterra and Cabio for commercial-scale products.