Two new plant-based tuna analog products are hitting the U.S. market as the cultured seafood market continues to make waves.
San Francisco, California-based food tech firm Kuleana is launching its plant-based tuna analog at Poké Bar restaurants across North America.
“We are excited to be working with Kuleana to bring the first plant-based tuna bowl to the poké industry,” Poké Bar CEO Yoon Ju said in a press release. “With this partnership, we aim to provide an all-inclusive poké experience to all our Poké Bar family; both domestic and international, thus continuing to do our part to promote sustainability.”
Kuleana said the tuna analog, created in close collaboration with world-renowned chefs, is made from radish, algae and bamboo fiber.
"Our priority is to serve delicious plant-based tuna that doesn't sacrifice when it comes to environmental and social responsibility, and is of course an uncompromisingly delicious culinary experience," Kuleana Co-founder and CEO Jacek Prus said. "This partnership demonstrates the growing demand for plant-based protein alternatives, and we are humbled to be providing an accessible and delicious plant-based solution to the food service sector."
San Francisco, California-based cell-cultured seafood producer Finless Foods also recently introduced a new plant-based tuna analog.
“We’ve developed a delicious, versatile product that makes an ideal plant-based substitute for raw tuna,” Finless Foods CEO and Co-Founder Michael Selden said in a press release. “The feedback received from our culinary partners has been phenomenal, likening the flavor and texture to sushi-grade tuna.”
Finless Foods aims to make the tuna analog product widely available to consumers by 2022 via restaurants and food service channels.
In the cultured seafood arena, Chicago, Illinois-based Aqua Cultured Foods is launching the world’s first whole-muscle cut seafood analog developed using microbial fermentation, per Green Queen.
Its first product will be a frozen popcorn shrimp, which will launch in select markets later this year, followed by marinated seafood pieces. It is also developing shrimp, calamari, ahi tuna, and fish fillets.
Meanwhile, Berkeley, California-based cell-cultured meat, poultry and seafood producer UPSIDE Foods appointed former PepsiCo Senior Vice President Amy Chen as the company's first chief operating officer.
Chen will help UPSIDE brings its first consumer product, UPSIDE Chicken, to market, the company said in a press release.
Photo courtesy of Kuleana
