TurtleTree received vegan certification for its precision-fermented, animal-free lactoferrin, LF+, from Vegan Action.
 
TurtleTree reports that it is the first precision fermentation dairy company globally to obtain a vegan certification, and the first ever to receive Certified Vegan certification from Vegan Action.
 
While most precision fermentation products don’t involve animal products or byproducts, interpretations of vegan status can be complex, with most standards being designed for plant products. Precision fermentation products can be bioidentical to animal products in nature, and genetic codes are reqruied in production.
 
Regulatory approval also demands extensive safety testing, and animal studies can expedite that approval at a lower cost, but this precludes their products from obtaining vegan certification. Other precision-fermented products claim to be vegan and animal-free, despite testing on animals, which is a hot-button issue in discussions of what constitutes vegan status, according to TurtleTree.
 
The company aims to set a precedent that can help to create veganism standards in the context of precision-fermented products, which fully excludes animal products, byproducts, and animal testing.
 
“With this certification, we are putting words into action and allowing that action to be validated by a third party,” said Fengru Lin, CEO and co-founder of TurtleTree. “We want to build a food system that is sustainable and enables animals to live happier and healthier lives. As conscious consumers increasingly prioritize ethical choices, we aim to provide food and beverage brands with the unwavering confidence that our products align seamlessly with those evolving values.” 
 
“We were thrilled to get TurtleTree’s product Vegan Certified because of the clear benchmark this sets for the rest of the industry,” said Krissi Vandenberg, director of vegan action. “TurtleTree’s dedication to ethical practices and transparency is commendable and will undoubtedly inspire other precision fermentation companies. This certification demonstrates the tangible steps companies can take to validate and communicate their values to customers, underlining a collective commitment to ethical standards.”
 
LF+ now has the Certified Vegan logo from Vegan Action on its packaging, showcasing the independent third-party assessment.