Nestle Enters Plant-Based Seafood Market with Faux Tuna

Aiming to capitalize on the growing market for plant-based products that mimic the look, taste, and feel of seafood, food and beverage giant Nestle said this week that it is debuting a new plant alternative tuna product.

Made from six ingredients, including pea protein, the faux tuna contains no artificial colorings or preservatives and can be used in a variety of ways, including salads and sandwiches.

“Sustainably produced plant-based seafood alternatives can help to reduce overfishing and to protect the biodiversity of our oceans. Our plant-based tuna alternative is delicious, nutritious, and high in protein, while also being mercury-free,” Stefan Palzer, Nestle Chief Technology Officer, said in a company press release. “We are excited to launch this great product, and other plant-based fish and shellfish alternatives are already under development.”

The product was created over a nine-month period at Nestle Research in Switzerland and R&D centers in the US and Germany. using Nestle’s existing capabilities in protein science and proprietary technologies. Nestle has released a number of other plant-based protein products recently, including poultry and beef alternatives.

“We are delighted to launch this strategic expansion of Nestle’s plant-based offerings in the Swiss market first,” Eugenio Simioni, market head for Nestle Switzerland, said in a statement. “It is another example of the innovation strength of Nestle in Switzerland, and the exceptional capabilities and expertise we have in this country in the area of food and nutrition.”

Nestle’s new alternative tuna will be sold under the Garden Gourmet brand as a chilled product glass jars or as plant-based tuna sandwiches.