“Meati Foods Patents MushroomRoot Ingredient, Aims to Revolutionize Plant-Based Food Industry”

In the ever-evolving world of plant-based food, Boulder, Colorado-based Meati Foods is making waves with a recently patented ingredient. As consumers become more discerning about the cost, ingredients, and taste of alternative proteins, Meati Foods aims to address these concerns with its innovative product.

The company announced today that it has secured exclusive rights to its Neurospora crassa-based inventions, known in the market as MushroomRoot, until 2039. This patent, granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, protects the “composition of matter” that constitutes MushroomRoot, according to Dr. Justin Whiteley, Meati’s co-founder and chief science officer.

MushroomRoot, derived from mycelium or the mushroom’s root structure, represents a significant addition to the plant-based foods space. It addresses consumers’ concerns about the health implications of processed plant-based foods. As Whiteley explains, “MushroomRoot is a whole food by itself. It’s its own organism, very similar to how you eat a mushroom. Our products are really just the mushroom itself and it’s very minimally processed in our manufacturing process.”

The versatility of MushroomRoot opens up endless possibilities for Meati Foods. The company plans to expand its product range beyond steaks and cutlets to include ground meats, seafood, powders, shelf-stable foods, and potentially even supplements. Furthermore, Meati Foods is committed to educating consumers about the nutritional benefits of MushroomRoot, which includes essential nutrients like protein, fiber, iron, zinc, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid.

Meati Foods’ patent is backed by extensive research. Even before securing the patent, the company conducted AI-driven research that identified 14 compounds in MushroomRoot and highlighted one health condition that regular consumption could support. This research, conducted in partnership with PIPA, a health- and nutrition-focused research firm, has accelerated the company’s understanding of the potential health benefits of MushroomRoot.

One of the most significant findings from the research is the potential of MushroomRoot to improve cardiovascular health. With heart disease being the leading cause of death among most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, Meati Foods aims to capitalize on this discovery and contribute to dietary interventions for heart health.

Despite the promising potential of MushroomRoot, Meati Foods acknowledges the challenges of scaling production and reaching underserved communities. As the sole manufacturer of MushroomRoot, the company is focused on increasing its production capacity to meet growing demand and ensure wide distribution.

Currently, Meati’s first product line, Eat Meati steaks and cutlets, are sold at select national and regional grocers. Despite being on the market only since March, Meati Foods has already seen impressive sales performance, frequently ranking as the top SKU among animal-free foods and outperforming other brands in the all-protein category by 150%.

With its patented MushroomRoot and a commitment to delivering high-quality, nutritious plant-based foods, Meati Foods is poised to make a significant impact on the plant-based food industry.