Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-07-07 Origin: Site
From nutritional health food to artificial meat to food and beverages and other diversified market segments, mushroom raw materials are setting off a new round of hot spots. Especially in overseas markets, whether it is from the refined development of raw materials, the layout of diversified products on the brand side, or the application of new downstream tracks, mushrooms have become the "seed players" in the market. The reason is that the mushroom fruiting body, mycelium and the specific bioactive compounds contained are the main reasons for the concern of related industries.
Data shows that the global functional mushroom product market will reach US$7.98 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US$19.33 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.3% during the period. In terms of product types, the market share of ganoderma lucidum will account for 2/5 of the total in 2020, while the market growth of hericium erinaceus is relatively fast, reaching 9.9% during the forecast period.
According to market data released by SPINS, in the functional food and beverage category in 2021, the sales of products containing mushroom raw materials will increase significantly, reaching 17.6%.
Just recently, U.S. prebiotic manufacturer and a medicinal mushroom manufacturer have collaborated to develop a mushroom prebiotic product that can be added to food, beverage, and dietary supplement product formulations. It can be effective at low doses and well tolerated by users. Test data showed that the raw material can increase the production of short-chain fatty acids by friendly bacteria in the gut.
In addition, mushroom protein is rapidly emerging in the field of artificial meat with its own advantages. For example, Fable Food is an Australian plant-based meat company established in 2019. Its core technology is to use mushroom raw materials to manufacture alternative meat products, especially shiitake mushrooms. The company stated externally that shiitake mushrooms contain essential amino acids, B vitamins, beta-glucans and other active ingredients, which are healthy ingredients with their own health attributes. More importantly, shiitake mushrooms have a natural umami flavor. And after processing, they will have the flavor of animal meat, and contain dietary fiber and antioxidants, which are natural properties that traditional soy protein does not have.
At present, Fable Food has launched a total of mushroom artificial meat products such as pulled pork and braised beef. The main ingredients are shiitake mushrooms and a small amount of tapioca flour, pepper powder, coconut oil, etc., without preservatives, chemical ingredients and GMOs, in line with clean labels product trends. In addition, compared with other meat substitutes processed from plant protein, the processing cost of shiitake mushroom artificial meat is lower, and other fillers and flavors are not required. In 2021, the company received $4.8 million in seed round financing, and planned to expand its product line to mushroom meat substitutes such as pork, chicken, and lamb in the future.
Moreover, domestic companies are also deploying plant meat products derived from mushroom protein. In 2020, a1 Snack Research Institute and Shanghai Xuerong Biotechnology established a joint venture to develop raw materials that use mushroom protein to fuse soybeans to increase the protein content of plant meat.
There are also some companies that use mushroom mycelium as a raw material for meat substitutes instead of mushroom products themselves, such as Atlas Food Company, Meati Food Company, etc. Mycelium, the filamentous root structure of mushrooms, is cultured and fermented in large metal tanks for up to 18 hours to grow into fibrous whole pieces of meat that are better in appearance and texture. Like animal meat, it also contains protein, vitamins and minerals. In terms of commercial products, Meati Food launched two mycelium-derived analogs in March this year, and launched a third commercial product, a steak analog, consisting of 95% to 97% mycelium in May this year. The ingredient list is relatively simple.
In addition to the well-known beta-glucan, there is also a lesser-known functional ingredient in mushrooms—vitamin D. Mushrooms contain a specific compound of ergosterol, which is converted to vitamin D, mainly in the form of vitamin D2, under UV radiation. At present, mushroom-derived vitamin D raw materials have been recognized by the EU EFSA in terms of safety. In the past few years, the European Union has approved the raw materials of vitamin D mushrooms produced by several companies as a new resource food.
Mushroom raw materials are continuing to break the circle with "new dosage forms", including chewing gum, chewable tablets, effervescent tablets, syrups, concentrated beverages, etc., and mushroom dosage forms in powder form provide more room for imagination in terms of product consumption scenarios. This way is also attracting the attention of young consumers to the category. For example, ganoderma lucidum extract has a long history of application in Chinese traditional medicine. In 2021, ganoderma lucidum spore powder will become the raw material for domestic health food filing. Currently, there are more than 100 kinds of health food based on this raw material.
Another company has launched a mushroom synergistic tincture product, including 11 kinds of mushroom raw materials, like ganoderma lucidum, chaga, hericium erinaceus, phellinus linteus, shiitake mushroom, cordyceps sinensis, yunzhi, etc. After a scientific and reasonable ratio, it has achieved a coordinated and synergistic effect. This product in the form of a tincture can be added to beverages, milk, water, and other products.
In February this year, Lifeway Food, an American fermented probiotic brand, launched a new adaptive functional mushroom drink. The core ingredients are 10 active probiotic cultures and oat beta-glucan, followed by Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, mushrooms, etc. fungal material.
In the retail market channel, mushroom coffee is a relatively representative product. According to the data, in 2021, the coffee containing mushroom raw materials will increase by 14% in the US market.
In addition, mushroom raw materials can also be used in candy, sauces, alcoholic beverages, juices, snacks and other product categories. There are differences in the mushroom raw materials and dosage forms used in different product categories.
