The reason you haven’t come across meatless octopus tentacles is because Revo Foods claims to be the first to market them. The Austrian startup invented the Kraken invention, inspired by Octopus.
Although advertised as a plant-based product, the main element of Revo’s meatless octopus comes from the mushroom kingdom. Mycoprotein is best known for adding a “meaty” texture to meat substitutes, and Revo is already employing it in its 3D-printed vegan products. Salmon fillet product.
In addition to being environmentally friendly and nutrient-dense (mycoprotein is a source of protein, fiber, minerals, and nutrients), the element also requires “much less” processing compared to the raw tissues used in plant-based alternatives, as Revo claims. maintain more micronutrients.
In German, octopus can be translated as “der krake”. But in reality, the Kraken comes from a catchphrase from the 1981 film “Clash of the Titans. “
“Is it essentially a game about pop culture icons?” explained Robin Simsa, CEO of Revo Foods. “In a famous movie from the ’80s, there’s an iconic line, ‘Free the Kraken,’ which has something popular and funny to say. “
The result is a product rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber. The Kraken earns a Nutri-Score “A”.
As for the production process itself, Robin Simsa, CEO, revealed that the company is lately experimenting with a new generation of three-dimensional structuring for its meatless octopus product. But the fact that this is a “complex” new production has limitations.
“As a result, we are now releasing The Kraken as a limited edition to receive feedback from the market and our distribution partners and will possibly release it on a larger scale through the end of the year. “
One of the most distinctive features of Revo’s new product is its color, which is intended to mimic the vibrancy of the original product. “Octopus tentacles, with their intense color and distinct suckers, are a very special product with an exciting appearance,” Nicoollo said. Galizzi, Head of Food Technology at Revo.
To get the pigments right, the startup experimented with other herbal dyes, Rimsa’s CEO revealed, adding that achieving the “typical octopus color” is not a simple task. “I think we got absolutely original effects with herbal dyes derived from the mixture of carrots, blueberries, paprika and sweet potato. “
Texture is another key domain for Revo, which also works with mycoproteins for its “fiber,” which requires less processing to create textures and mouthfeel.
Octopus is described as having a firm but tender texture. Rimsa describes the texture of the Kraken as “a little less chewy” compared to traditional octopus and explains texture adjustments depending on the use case. “What’s special about the Kraken is that it can be ready for hot meals or without blood,” he told FoodNavigator.
In fact, the product can be roasted, fried, baked, or served as is. “I think it’s a clever addition to an octopus salad. “
Of all the times it’s imaginable to be an octopus, this might be one of the most productive. Interest and empathy for those sea creatures is growing, Revo Foods believes, following the hit Netflix documentary “My Octopus Teacher. “Today, many octopus lovers avoid eating these desirable animals. “
But octopus consumption remains high. It is estimated that up to 200,000 tonnes of octopus are fed annually in the EU alone. The number of wild octopuses is declining.
At the same time, octopus farms are causing controversy, with animal welfare teams opposing their development. In the United States, funds have been raised to ban octopus bans in the states of Washington, California, and Hawaii.
The publication comes in the wake of a controversy over Revo’s plant-based labeling. In Austria, the municipality of Vienna has filed a lawsuit against the launch of its product “Revo Salmon”.
“Our packaging indicates that 100% plant-based ingredients are used and obviously that the product is vegan and contains no animal-based ingredients. In our view, any accusation of deception is unjustified,” Simsa said at the time.
“Many consumers especially prefer these types of products, and it is vital to give indications about the taste of the product with descriptive names. “
Last month, the Vienna court dismissed the complaint. As for whether Rimsa is worried that The Kraken – Inspired by Octopus will get a reaction, he told us that “the last word hasn’t been said yet. “
“We are seeing continued attacks on the political point by many other actors within the EU. However, we strongly believe in freedom of choice when it comes to product assortment. In the same way, we must prohibit other actors from providing their products.
“As long as they meet all the required food standards, we don’t see how it would be fair to prohibit us and other plant-based food products from competing fairly. “
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