Faced With Regulatory Hurdles, German Mycelium Meat Maker Debuts in South Korea with Pulmuone

Hamburg-based Infinite Roots has teamed up with plant-based giant Pulmuone to debut its mycelium protein in a line of meat analogues in South Korea.

Armed with regulatory roadblocks in its home region, German startup Infinite Roots has debuted its mycelium ingredient in South Korean supermarkets with the help of tofu and vegan meat manufacturer Pulmuone.

Infinite Roots’s umami-packed protein is being rolled out as part of mushroom-led products under Pulmuone’s Earth Diet line, in an omnichannel test described as a significant step towards bringing novel foods to market readiness.

The meatballs and Hamburg steak contain “only a few ingredients”, according to Infinite Roots founder and CEO Mazen Rizk, who told Green Queen: “Both products have a very exquisite taste, rich in umami. We are not trying to imitate meat; instead, we focus on highlighting the natural taste of mycelium.”

He added that the products have received positive feedback, which “underscores the strong interest in mycelium and foods derived from this raw material, as they deliver on both taste and sustainability”.

Regulatory challenges drove Infinite Roots eastward

Mycelium is the root-like structure of edible mushrooms, comprising a network of tiny thread-like cells that grow underground to form an intricate web of connections. It’s a fast-growing market, set to cross $6.5B by 2032, according to one estimate.

Infinite Roots, which was founded in 2018, employs a submerged fermentation process (where microbial cells are grown in a liquid medium) for its upcycled mycelium. It uses edible mushroom strains that are fed on brewers’ spent grain, which makes up 85% of the waste emanating from the brewing industry.

These roots are from the same mushrooms you can buy at the supermarket, and the startup has already achieved self-determined Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (it has since notified the FDA in pursuit of a ‘no questions’ letter).

It has also been in talks with the European Food Safety Authority, with the startup telling Green Queen last month that it was in the final stages of securing approval. This process is ongoing, but Infinite Roots – which has raised $73M in funding to date – is now suggesting that regulatory hurdles have prompted it to look elsewhere for now, building on a previous comment where the spokesperson said: “In Asia, we’re already set to offer our products to consumers.”

The move to enter the South Korean market is reflective of the struggle faced by European alternative protein startups when it comes to commercialising their products at home, according to the company.

“Our ingredients are derived from well-known edible mushrooms that have been consumed throughout history,” said Rizk. “Despite this, the Korean authorities independently tested our products and concluded that they are safe.”

He added that the mycelium ingredient is not going through a novel food process in South Korea, where the regulatory system is different from the EU.

“Both regions prioritise safety and efficacy, but differ in their regulatory frameworks, emphasis on health claims, and localised data requirements,” he said. “South Korea’s process can be faster but more localised, whereas the EFSA’s centralised system is more comprehensive but slower.”

Pulmuone’s bid to grow alt-protein empire

Partnering with Pulmuone, a plant protein leader for over four decades, is a shrewd move. The South Korean firm recorded $2.1B in sales in 2023, with operating profit jumping by 135% to surpass $44M. And among its main global growth pillars are an expansion of its meat alternative portfolio, a strengthening of its ESG goals, and future readiness through food tech.

The company forayed into meat alternatives in 2021 with the Earth Diet label, which has a wide range of meat analogue products. It will provide Infinite Roots with an ideal platform for consumer acceptance through an established brand.

The prominent positioning of Earth Diet underscores the potential to make the products accessible to a broad audience, according to Infinite Roots. “It’s a brand with a very strong heritage in healthy quality food. Its reputation is excellent in Korea,” the spokesperson said of Pulmuone.

The products combine mycelium with mushrooms to create a rich umami profile that caters to local taste preferences, and are positioned to resonate with Asian customers who are familiar with mushroom-based dishes.

For Pulmuone, the partnership marks a step towards its sustainability goals – mycelium needs 500 times less land and 200 times less water per kg of protein than cattle, and its production is also 30 times more efficient than soy.

The Korean food producer has been making moves in the cultivated meat space too. It has invested in Seoul-based Simple Planet, which is pursuing regulatory approval in the country and targeting the launch of hybrid meat products with Pulmuone for 2025. It has also struck partnerships with US startup BlueNalu and robotics company ABB to bring cultivated seafood to the market.