At Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen, we’re excited to spotlight Meala Foodtech, a Grow-NY finalist whose mission aligns with our own: encouraging plant-based choices by improving access to healthy and delicious options. The Grow-NY competition empowers food and agriculture startups to drive sustainability and transparency forward, and Meala’s clean-label innovation is a prime example.

Meala FoodTech: Redefining Clean Labels in Plant-Based Foods

Dr. Tali Feldman Sivan, co-founder of Meala Foodtech, joined Chef Ryan Jennings on Shelling Peas to discuss Meala’s mission to create cleaner, healthier plant-based food ingredients. The company’s core technology replaces artificial binders and additives with clean-label, functional proteins, making it possible to achieve the desired textures in food products without sacrificing ingredient transparency. As Dr. Feldman Sivan explains, Meala’s goal is to replace chemical additives with natural ingredients, allowing plant-based products to deliver both nutrition and quality without compromise.

Expanding Beyond Plant-Based Meats

While Meala initially focused on plant-based meat alternatives, Dr. Feldman Sivan shared their plans for the future. Beyond meats, Meala’s technology is advancing into egg reduction solutions for baking and has potential applications in ice creams, sauces, and other products requiring binding agents. This broader approach addresses consumer demand for nutritious, transparent ingredient lists in more food categories.

Through Grow-NY, Meala has connected with essential resources and potential partners to support their U.S. expansion. Dr. Feldman Sivan spoke about how the competition’s mentorship and networking opportunities are helping them establish a foothold in New York and beyond, moving closer to their goal of providing natural, protein-rich ingredients that enhance product quality across the board.

Looking to the Future: A Healthier, Transparent Food Industry

Meala’s participation in Grow-NY reflects their commitment to making clean-label foods accessible on a global scale. In collaboration with partners across Europe and new connections in New York, Meala is poised to reshape the processed food landscape with technology that not only meets texture and flavor expectations but also prioritizes natural, nutritious ingredients.

Listen to Meala Foodtech’s Story on Shelling Peas

Curious about Meala’s innovative journey? Tune into this week’s episode of Shelling Peas to hear Chef Ryan’s conversation with Dr. Tali Feldman Sivan, where they discuss Meala’s technology, its impact on clean labels, and the exciting future of plant-based foods. Meala FoodTech exemplifies the forward-thinking, health-driven spirit of Grow-NY and promises to make a lasting impact on our food system.

Stay tuned for more updates from Grow-NY and the inspiring stories of companies reshaping the future of food and agriculture.