Because Animals changes name to become a cultivated meat supplier

The company, previously known as Because Animals, has recently announced a rebranding under the new name BioCraft Pet Nutrition. 

BioCraft wants to focus now on the commercialization of cultured meat, R&D and work with producers interested in adding cultured meat to their pet food.

“The company’s strength is our scientific prowess, and since scientific innovation is key to bringing cultured meat to market, we made the decision to apply laser focus to achieving that feat and to divest ourselves of any and all non-core assets that were not required to realize that objective,” says BioCraft CEO Shannon Falconer.

In 2022, the firm discontinued its plant-based products marketed under the Because Animals brand while retaining all intellectual property relating to its cultured meat. 

Product development

BioCraft hired Theresa Rothenbücher as the new Chief Product Officer to accelerate product development. Rothenbücher, former Chief Scientific Officer at plant-based seafood company Revo Foods, has a background in stem cell-based tissue engineering and food technology innovation as an entrepreneur in the European market. 

“Bringing in Theresa’s experience in tissue engineering and product development multiplies our strengths and puts us on the path to becoming the leading provider of cultured meat for the pet food supply chain,” said Falconer.

A group of scientists has also been appointed to push operations at the company’s Vienna lab.

Formulating cultured meat

BioCraft cultivates meat from proprietary cell lines without using fetal bovine serum (FBS)—an ingredient obtained from the slaughter of pregnant cows—in a pathogen-free environment to offer “nutritionally robust” products that are sustainable for animals and the environment.

The pet food ingredient is created in the industry standard “meat slurry” consistency and can be used for wet and dry foods, treats and fresh pet food. 

The company says it is developing “ancestral prey options” like mice for cats, among other conventional meat products for cats and dogs.