Health and performance nutrition startup Fermenta has partnered with Solar Foods to introduce protein bars formulated with Solein, a microbial protein. The launch, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, will make Fermenta one of the first companies to offer Solein-containing products to US consumers under their Gutsy brand. The bars will be gluten-free, animal-free, and positioned for consumers seeking products that support digestive health while being high in protein and vegan-friendly.

Solar Foods is expanding distribution of Solein in the US, targeting the health and performance category with supply agreements with manufacturers. The company has submitted a GRAS notification for Solein and is seeking an FDA "no questions" letter. With their first commercial-scale facility, Factory 01, producing 160 tons of Solein per year, Solar Foods is excited to see how Solein will be used in future products, like Fermenta's functional protein bars, which highlight the versatile nature of Solein as an ingredient.