Chocolate bar made with new protein grown out of thin air

Finnish food experience company Fazer is introducing a limited-edition chocolate snack bar under the Taste the Future concept at selected Cocoa Tree stores across Singapore.

The snack bar uses Solein, a novel protein that is said to be grown out of ‘thin air’ and developed by Solar Foods. The protein is produced out of a microbe sourced in nature. The microbe is grown to a protein powder in a bioprocess powered by electricity and carbon dioxide without the need for traditional agricultural methods. Solein received a novel food regulatory approval in September 2022 in Singapore, clearing its sale and use in food products in the city state.

The snack bar is labelled as vegan friendly, palm oil-free and made of 70% dark chocolate, hazelnut, dried strawberries and crunchy oat puffs. The recipe includes 2% of the Solein protein, which provides iron, a nutrient sometimes lacking in plant-based diets.

For Solar Foods, the new snack bar demonstrates the versatility of Solein, which can be used as a fortifier to complement the nutritional profile of various foods. Solein can be used a source of iron, fibre and B vitamins, as well as bring different techno-functionalities into food products.

The snack bars were produced in Vantaa by Fazer. The Solein used in the bars comes from Solar Foods’ pilot factory, capable of producing small quantities of the protein. Solar Foods’ first commercial-scale facility, Factory 01, is close to completion and scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2024. Once this first commercial-scale facility ramps up production, it will produce 160 tonnes of Solein a year.

Solar foods has now filed for novel food approvals in other key markets, such as the EU, UK and United States.

“This is an exciting moment for us working with Fazer — the very first time people can try Solein within a consumer snack bar. This also demonstrates the potential of Solein as a sustainable and nutritious fortifier. With this introduction in Singapore, we are getting valuable customer feedback on Solein’s viability in a new product category and also get a sense of the consumer acceptance of future ingredients. Our shared aim extends beyond this pivotal moment, targeting a wider scale European launch in 2025–2026 with a whole range of products,” said co-founder and CEO of Solar Foods Pasi Vainikka.