A new mushroom fiber is being used to stop using animal-related products in the production of beer.
Unknown to many, egg whites, milk, and fish gelatin is often used in the beer-making process
Food ingredients firm Chinova Bioworks Inc launched a new production scheme to help develop more vegan beers using a new special process that involves mushroom fibers.
This technology has been “brewing for years but the launch was only announced earlier this month. It uses fiber from white button mushrooms and they hope it will encourage breweries to engage in vegan practices.
The animal-derived products used in the preparation of beer are usually egg whites, milk, and fish gelatin, and they are used as a fining agent in the beverage industry. They are used to remove certain chemicals to maintain flavor or to clarify colors.
Other fining agents include pepsin, an agent found in the stomach of pigs, and chitin found in lobster shells.
Chinova Bioworks states that its new technology is eight times faster at settling yeast production in the fining process. The new vegan white button mushroom fiber is called Chiber, and it's marketed as being extremely cost-effective.
Moreover, make the beer stay fresher for longer. Chinova Biowroks adds that it is both odorless and tasteless and won't affect the flavor of the beers it is added to.
The Canada-based company is eyeing a 2022 launch and is working on market testing at the moment
Chinova's COO David Brown said: “People are searching for vegan and plant-based options for every aspect of their lifestyle.
“So, we are committed to innovating and providing sustainable solutions based off our white button mushroom fiber technology.”
Brown added that many alcoholic drinks, beer in particular, are ‘plagued' with animal products. They're also full of as synthetic ingredients, Brown adds.
To find out more about Chinova Bioworks click here
