Here you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

PEKILO® is a mycoprotein ingredient, a filamentous fungus (Paecilomyces variotii) produced through a fermentation process. It naturally contains both protein and functional fibre, making it a highly nutritious ingredient. Thanks to its neutral taste and light colour, PEKILO® can be used across a wide range of applications without dominating the final product’s flavour or appearance.

PEKILO® is produced through a fermentation process, where we grow fungal biomass in a fermenter under controlled conditions. The process is fast and efficient, and our proprietary strain is highly adaptable in terms of the nutrients it can utilize. After fermentation, the biomass is harvested, dewatered and dried. The result is a consistent, easy-to-use ingredient that integrates smoothly into existing manufacturing processes.

Mycelium is the root-like structure of fungi, and it forms the basis of mycoprotein ingredients. When this biomass is grown through fermentation and processed into an ingredient, it is referred to as mycoprotein. Despite the name, mycoprotein typically contains both protein and fibre — and it is precisely this combination that makes ingredients like PEKILO® particularly interesting for modern food and pet food applications.

There are some differences in the nutritional composition of PEKILO® intended for food and for pet food. Generally, PEKILO® contains 50-65% protein, 20-34% dietary fibre, of which a significant part is fungal beta-glucan, and 5-7% fat.

Yes, PEKILO® contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein

Based on multiple canine feeding trials and collaboration with our partners, we've seen PEKILO® perform well in pet nutrition accross formulation, digestibility and palatability, with no adverse reactions observed.

Several canine feeding trials have been conducted with PEKILO®, and to date these have shown no negative impact on palatability. In addition, we have multiple collaborations underway to further evaluate how pets respond to PEKILO® across different applications.

The allergenicity of PEKILO® has been rigorously evaluated. As with any protein, PEKILO® has the potential to trigger an immune response. However, current data indicates it is not a major allergen. Its primary allergenic profile is comparable to those found in baker’s yeast and other filamentous fungi. When milk permeate is utilized as feedstock during fermentation, residual dairy proteins, and dairy-derived allergens, may be present.

PEKILO® is currently offered as a dry powdered ingredient for food manufacturing and as dry pellets for animal nutrition applications. Both of these variants are optimised for their applications, taking into account factors such as functionality, composition, and processing performance.

PEKILO® is a B2B ingredient that we supply directly to manufacturers. As we scale production, we are working closely with selected partners. If you are interested in exploring how PEKILO® could work in your products, we encourage you to get in touch with us.

PEKILO® is currently available for pet food applications in Europe, where it is listed in the EU feed catalogue.

For food applications, PEKILO® is undergoing regulatory approvals. We have completed a self-affirmed GRAS process in the United States and submitted a GRAS notification to the FDA. In addition, novel food applications have been submitted in the EU, the UK, and Singapore.

We expect the first commercial pet food products containing PEKILO® to be launched in 2026. In food, timelines are linked to regulatory processes, but we are actively working with partners to bring products to market as approvals progress.

Please contact us at info@enifer.com

We are currently working directly with our customers but are open for discussions for collaboration also with distributors.

The fungus can grow on many types of carbohydrates and other organic compounds. In practice, Enifer uses sugars or by-products of food, starch and sugar industries, that contain such compounds.

FSSC 22000 V6