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One of the foods that people miss when they choose to switch to plant-based diets is sushi. However, Aqua Cultured Foods, a Chicago-based company, is looking to change this. They recently announced that they are in the process of developing a new facility that will allow for large-scale production of the world’s first whole-muscle cut, sushi-quality, plant-based seafood.
Why plant-based fish?
Aqua Cultured Foods was set up to tackle one of the most pressing climate-related concerns of our time. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that over 80% of the world’s seafood stocks are either fully exploited or have been overexploited. This is due to the increasing global demand for seafood and unsustainable large-scale fishing practices. These include bottom trawling, using gill nets, long lines and blast/dynamite fishing, which capture and kill hefty amounts of fish while simultaneously destroying aquatic ecosystems.
Related: Are plant-based fish from Current Foods yummy or yucky?
Additionally, bycatch is threatening biodiversity in the oceans. Estimates show that up to 40% of the fish caught in industrial fishing is bycatch. This includes marine species with threatened populations such as dolphins, seals and turtles. Furthermore, another human-induced factor that threatens aquatic life is abandoned fishing gear such as traps and nets, which add to plastic waste. Because of these practices, aquatic environments that maintain the earth’s ecological well-being, such as mangrove swamps and coral reefs, suffer. Consequently, these have large-scale impacts on climate change and the health of the planet.
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If contemporary over-exploitive fishing practices continue, wild seafood stocks are likely to be depleted by 2048. This will have severe consequences on the millions of people that depend on the ocean for their livelihoods and food, as well as the flora, fauna and overall well-being of aquatic ecosystems. Since the ocean is responsible for sequestering most of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, threats to its resilience would also exacerbate global warming.
By developing seafood alternatives that match (or exceed) culinary, sensorial and nutritional properties of traditional seafood, Aqua Cultured Foods hopes that this initiative will lessen over-exploitive and environmentally-destructive fishing practices. Consequently, this would allow the planet to heal from the harm caused by human-related factors.
How it works
Aqua Cultured Foods uses a specialized fermentation process to make their alternative seafood. This process does not include the use of animal products or genetic modification, and all the company’s products are 100% GMO-free.
The company uses a process known as mycoprotein fermentation. Mycoprotein is a single-cell protein that is derived from naturally-occurring fungi. Meanwhile, fermentation is the chemical breakdown of microorganisms and has been used for thousands of years across cultures to make foods like sourdough, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi. Because of the textures and flavors that can be developed using this process, this alternative seafood mimics the sensorial experience of traditional seafood.
The process starts off using easily available and affordable unprocessed organic matter. Next, a nutrient-rich solution is added to serve as a food source for the microbes in the organic matter. Additionally, a strain of fungi (the mycoprotein) is added to assist with the transformation for the ideal texture and flavor. The organic matter is cultured in a meticulously-controlled environment. This includes controlling factors like heat, moisture and humidity to create the optimal end product. So far, Aqua Cultured Foods have developed formulas for various seafood alternatives, including tuna, squid, whitefish and shrimp. More products like calamari, scallops and fish fillets are under development.
Why Aqua Cultured Foods’ plant-based fish rivals traditional seafood
There are three main reasons why Aqua Cultured Foods’ seafood alternatives are comparable to traditional seafood.
The ideal seafood replacement
Aqua Cultured Foods’ seafood alternatives use the mycoprotein process to their advantage. In doing so, these alternatives have similar flavor profiles and textures to typical seafood. They can even be used as exact replacements in recipes because their qualities mimic the properties of seafood and cook quickly. Additionally, their seafood is of such high quality that it can even be consumed raw for dishes like sashimi, nigiri and ceviche.
Safe for consumption
Given the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, particularly through water pollution, fish are becoming increasingly dangerous for human health. Various species of fish have been found to have mercury, pesticides, microplastics and even polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are highly carcinogenic chemical compounds. Seafood also has to be handled carefully, as it is a leading source of food-borne illnesses caused by microorganisms.
Unlike traditional seafood, Aqua Cultured Foods’ products are 100% safe to eat raw and do not contain harmful chemical compounds. Their alternatives are also free from the top 10 allergens and can even be consumed by people with seafood allergies. Furthermore, the products are vegan and therefore do not have any animal-derived ingredients. To ensure a wide range of consumers, these alternatives also do not have soy, gluten or even protein isolates that are often used in other forms of plant-based meats.
Nutritionally-superior seafood
Aqua Cultured Foods’ seafood alternatives have higher nutrient levels than other traditional or plant-based seafood options. The alternatives are high in protein and even include Omega-3 fatty acids through their special patent-pending production process. Their undisclosed source of Omega-3s is sustainably-sourced, vegan and allergen-free. Additionally, unlike conventional seafood, these alternatives have high levels of fiber, which is one of the most important macronutrients for our health.
What’s the verdict?
As a result of their patent-protected mycoprotein fermentation production, Aqua Cultured Foods’ products are high-quality substitutes for traditional seafood. They outperform animal products in their taste, texture, safety and nutritional value, all while being vegan and safe to eat.
Lead image via Aqua Cultured Foods
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