# Solein > Solein® is a protein ingredient grown from a natural single-cell organism discovered in the Nordic wilderness, cultivated by fermentation using air, water, minerals and renewable electricity, without farmland, fertilizers or pesticides. It is made by Solar Foods Oyj, a Finnish food technology company established in 2017, and sold to food and beverage brands as a single-ingredient protein powder. Key facts: - Composition (dry weight): 80% protein with all nine essential amino acids (20% BCAA), 10% fibre (40% of it beta-glucans), 6% fat (mainly oleic acid), 4% minerals and vitamins including naturally occurring iron and vitamin B12. No cholesterol. - Dietary labels: free from all 14 major allergens, dairy-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, animal-free, vegan compatible, non-GMO, Halal certified and Kosher certified. - Availability: commercially available in the United States and Singapore. EU novel food authorization is expected by the end of 2026. Company, science and investor information is on [solarfoods.com](https://solarfoods.com/). ## Work with Solein - [Contact](https://www.solein.com/contact/): Product development and supply enquiries from food and beverage brands (sales@solarfoods.com), media enquiries (media@solarfoods.com), and a link to the Solar Foods contact form for researchers, investors and others. - [Distributors](https://solarfoods.com/qa/are-you-looking-for-new-distributors/): How distributors interested in Solein can contact Solar Foods. - [Where to buy products with Solein](https://solarfoods.com/qa/where-and-when-can-we-buy-products-which-contain-solein/): Products and restaurants selling Solein in Singapore and the United States, and markets where approval is pending. - [Newsletter](https://www.solein.com/newsletter/): Sign-up for Solein stories, kitchen experiments and Solar Foods updates. ## Solein - [What is Solein](https://www.solein.com/what-is-solein/): Origin of the organism, how it is grown, full nutritional composition, dietary and certification labels, and availability by market. - [How to use](https://www.solein.com/how-to-use/): Applications for food and beverage brands (protein bars and snacks, ready-to-drink, ready-to-mix powders, dairy replacement, egg yolk replacement) and functional properties: neutral flavour, high solubility in cold and ambient liquids, stability across pH and temperature, binding and emulsification. - [Solein Cream (December 2025)](https://www.solein.com/articles/solein-cream-pure-creaminess-without-cows-or-crops/): Dairy-free cream made from water, Solein and oil, developed by Solar Foods head chef Miikka Manninen, with three times the protein of traditional heavy cream. - [Health and performance nutrition (May 2025)](https://www.solein.com/articles/how-solein-is-sprinting-into-health-and-performance-nutrition/): Solein in protein bites, shakes and other performance nutrition formats. - [Snacking and grazing (June 2025)](https://www.solein.com/articles/grazing-on-a-good-conscience/): Snack prototypes with Solein designed for grazing-style eating, including for consumers using GLP-1 medications. ## Safety and regulation - [Is Solein safe to eat?](https://solarfoods.com/qa/is-solein-safe-to-eat-what-is-the-gras-process-in-the-united-states-and-how-do-we-ensure-the-safety-of-our-product/): Regulatory approvals (Singapore in September 2022, US self-affirmed GRAS in September 2024), how the GRAS safety assessment works, and pending EU and UK novel food applications. - [Solein launches in the United States (December 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/the-greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread-solein-enters-america/): Solein launched in the US in November 2024 after obtaining self-affirmed GRAS status. ## Science and production - [How Solein turns microbes into food (December 2023)](https://www.solein.com/articles/solein-transforms-ancient-microbes-into-the-future-of-food/): How hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide into protein-rich microbial cells. - [How Solein is produced](https://solarfoods.com/qa/how-is-solein-produced/): Step by step: microbes from Finnish nature are grown in fermentors on hydrogen, carbon dioxide and mineral nutrients, then heat-treated, dewatered and dried into powder. - [Factory 01 (January 2025)](https://www.solein.com/articles/factory-01-where-the-sun-never-sets-on-harvest-season/): Solein production at Factory 01 in Finland: a 70-hour production cycle, with daily output compared to that of 300 dairy cows. - [Solein Space Shake (October 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/space-shake-stirring-up-the-future-of-food-beyond-earth/): A Solein protein drink designed for astronauts, developed for NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge. ## Sustainability - [Science & Impact](https://www.solein.com/science-impact/): The case for growing protein without agriculture. Inputs are air, water, minerals and renewable electricity, with zero fertilizers or pesticides, alongside context on agricultural land use and future food demand. - [How ecological is Solein?](https://solarfoods.com/qa/how-ecological-is-solein/): Lifecycle-analysis result for Solein's environmental impact compared with plant-based and meat protein. ## Company - [About Solar Foods](https://solarfoods.com/about-us/): The company behind Solein: founded in 2017 by Dr Pasi Vainikka and Dr Juha-Pekka Pitkänen, headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, and listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland. - [Q&A](https://solarfoods.com/media/qa/): Solar Foods' question-and-answer hub covering Solein, science, production, impact, space, regulation and availability. ## Milestones - [Taste the Future](https://www.solein.com/taste-the-future/): Stories and launches of Solein in food products, restaurants and the Solein Kitchen. - [First US tastings at Olmsted (November 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/olmsted-serves-the-first-tastes-of-solein-in-the-united-states/): Chef Greg Baxtrom served the first US tastings of Solein in a four-course menu at Olmsted in Brooklyn. - [Ajinomoto mooncakes and ice cream sandwiches (September 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/enriching-the-moon-festival-with-solein-tradition-meets-sustainability/): Ajinomoto's Atlr.72 brand launched limited-edition Solein mooncakes and ice cream sandwiches in Singapore for the Mid-Autumn Festival. - [Chengdu Bowl (April 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/solein-shakes-up-sichuan-chengdu-bowl-reimagines-mapo-tofu-in-singapore/): Singapore restaurant Chengdu Bowl added Mapo Tofu and Sour and Spicy Soup made with Solein to its menu. - [Fazer snack bar (February 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/a-new-snack-bar-launched-in-singapore-demonstrates-the-versatility-of-solein/): Fazer launched a limited-edition "Taste the Future" snack bar with Solein at select outlets in Singapore. - [First public serving at Fico (June 2023)](https://www.solein.com/articles/chef-mirko-febbrile-reinvents-cucina-povera-with-solein/): Chef Mirko Febbrile's restaurant Fico in Singapore became the first to serve Solein to the public, starting with chocolate gelato. ## Optional - [The Solein Kitchen (July 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/the-solein-kitchen-showcasing-tomorrows-cuisine/): Summer dishes from Solar Foods' in-house kitchen, including cream cheese, salad dressing and macarons made with Solein. - [A day in the life of the Solein chef (June 2025)](https://www.solein.com/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-solein-chef/): Head chef Miikka Manninen's work developing culinary applications in the Solein Kitchen in Finland. - [From miso to gelato: the first Solein menu (July 2023)](https://www.solein.com/articles/from-miso-to-gelato-a-voyage-through-the-first-solein-menu/): The five-course Solein menu presented in Singapore. - [Chef Oliver Truesdale-Jutras (June 2023)](https://www.solein.com/articles/chef-oliver-truesdale-jutras-exploring-the-power-of-solein/): The first official tasting of Solein in Singapore, led by the chairman of Singapore's Food and Beverage Sustainability Council. - [What will the future taste like? (February 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/what-will-the-future-taste-like/): How Solein can recreate familiar foods such as bread and cheese. - [An endless summer with Solein (August 2024)](https://www.solein.com/articles/an-endless-summer-with-solein/): Solein's low water use, no need for arable land and year-round production.