You Can Now Try Chicken-Free Egg Whites in the US

(Photo The EVERY Company) When it comes to egg white substitutes, one Californian technology company may have come as close to the “real thing” as it gets. 

The Every Company (formerly called Clara Foods) announced back in October that it had successfully created “the world’s first animal-free, nature-equivalent egg protein,” called ClearEgg. Now ClearEgg is something you can actually try for yourself. Every has announced a partnership with Chantal Guillon, a popular San Francisco confectionery, to use ClearEgg in a line of vegan French macarons. 

ClearEgg is Every’s third animal-free product. First was the company’s animal-free pepsin (a pig-derived digestive enzyme used in pharmaceuticals). That was followed by a flavorless protein powder made to be added to virtually anything. ClearEgg is the first egg white to be lab-made with engineered yeast, which is responsible for forming the protein that makes up the actual product. Though Every hasn’t shared the combination of proteins it uses to create ClearEgg, ovalbumin (the main protein in standard egg whites) is likely involved. 

(Photo: Chantal Guillon)

Egg white substitutes have been around for a while now, but they’re just that: substitutes. While bartenders may opt to use aquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas) in shaken cocktails and bakers may choose cream of tartar or flax seeds when making sweet treats, each of these alternatives are ultimately made up of different proteins, meaning they may not offer the same benefits as real egg whites. Though ClearEgg comes as a powder that must be mixed with water, the end result is a gelatinous clear mixture that whips and bakes just like the whites from an actual egg. Every also says ClearEgg’s “optical clarity” and “more neutral sensory profile” make it highly versatile. After all, a clear, tasteless liquid is far easier to use in a beloved recipe than something containing its own color or flavor. 

While trivial to some, ClearEgg’s similarity to real eggs is important. Those who are turned off by the appearance of egg whites may find substitutes acceptable or preferable. However, those who do like egg whites may be more likely to try an animal-free version if their level of familiarity isn’t significantly challenged. (The same goes for meat substitutes like Impossible or Beyond meat, which look, feel, cook, and even sometimes bleed like the real thing. We’ve come a long way.) As a bonus, Every says it will comply with label requirements to be considered kosher, halal, and animal-free. This makes the product capable of suiting a wider range of customer needs. ClearEgg’s packaging does indicate the product contains egg allergens.

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