Nestlé has announced the debut of a range of plant-based alternatives to white fish. The certified vegan products, which include faux breaded fish fillets, nuggets and fingers, stand out for their solid nutrition content as well flavor and texture that is close to real white fish.
“These new fish alternatives are the result of our deep expertise in plant-based proteins and our strong commitment to continue delivering exciting innovations that meet consumers’ expectations.” said Torsten Pohl, global head of research and development for Nestlé’s food category. “During testing, our products received high praise for the great taste and texture that is close to white fish.”
Three types of imitation fish are being launched across geographies and brands. In Europe, under the Garden Gourmet brand, Nestlé will introduce marine-style crispy fillet and marine-style crispy nuggets. Made with wheat and pea protein, the products are high in protein and low in saturated fat. They also come with a Nutri-score A in countries that use the Nutri-score front-of-pack labelling system. They will launch both online and in store in countries including Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In Asia, Nestlé has already launched faux fish-free fingers for both retail and foodservice sectors under the Harvest Gourmet label in Malaysia and Singapore. Made from soy and wheat, the fish finger alternatives are a source of protein and fiber and come in a crispy coating that is infused with herbs like oregano and rosemary.
Massimo Zucchero, Nestlé’s global category lead for plant-based meals, stated: “People continue to seek out plant-based options for their favorite dishes. These new alternatives to fish are a great addition at mealtimes and can also be shared as an appetizer or small meal. They are tasty, nutritious and can help to reduce overfishing and protect the biodiversity of our oceans.”
The launches complement Nestlé’s Garden Gourmet Vuna, an alternative to tuna fish that has been available in Europe since 2020, as well as the multinational company’s wide ranging plant-based portfolio. Moreover, Nestlé is actively exploring cutting-edge technologies for animal-free products such as precision fermentation and cultured meat to further expand its offerings.
