# Dairy-Based Meat Substitutes Valio MiFU is a Dairy-Based Product That Replaces Meat & Poultry By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-06-22 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dairy-based-product References: [berryondairy.blogspot](https://berryondairy.blogspot.com/2018/06/ift-2018-smart-food-development.html) & [valio.fi](https://www.valio.fi/tuotteet/valio-mifu/) Finland's Valio introduced an innovative dairy-based product by the name of [Valio MiFU](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/finlandia-cheeses), which has the potential to be used as an [alternative to meat or poultry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cleanbean-products) in cooking recipes. The product is made with proprietary technology, Finnish milk and takes the form of ready-to-eat strips. The inventive Valio MiFU was developed by the internal innovation team at Valio, which was challenged to create a new way to use the casein protein in milk. Throughout the process, one of the biggest obstacles for the team was creating a product with a form that could withstand being pan-fried, yet also retain a [desirable texture and mouthfeel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/naplasol-promyc-mycoprotein-line). Although dairy is a key part of the product, the high-protein, low-fat strips are free from lactose, gluten, eggs and yeast. Additionally, Valio MiFU recently won a World Dairy Innovation Awards competition in the Best New Brand/Business category. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 21% | Activity: 35% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Dairy-focused Meat Substitutes:** Creating meat substitutes using dairy-based proteins to appeal to lactose intolerant and health-conscious consumers. - **Innovative Plant-based Cooking Ingredients:** Developing new plant-based and dairy-based ingredients as a more sustainable, animal-friendly and healthy way to produce meat substitutes. - **Ready-to-cook Meat Substitutes:** Creating ready-to-cook meatless strips and patties for busy consumers who want convenient and versatile plant-based options. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Dairy Processing Industry:** Investing in innovative technologies and collaborations to improve the functional properties of dairy proteins and identify new applications for them in the meat substitute market. - **Plant-based Meat Substitutes Industry:** Partnering with dairy companies to develop hybrid products that combine the benefits of plant-based ingredients with the nutritional properties and versatility of dairy proteins. - **Food Retail Industry:** Expanding the variety and accessibility of meat substitutes in grocery stores by adding dairy-based options that appeal to consumers with different dietary needs and preferences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Bean-Based Meat Replacement Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vitatex-wheat-fava-flakes-svp-pro.md) - [Alt Meat Minces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matr-fungi-mince.md) - [Animal-Free Milk Proteins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/animalfree-milk-protein.md) - [Meaty Beef Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-beef-alternative.md) - [Lamb-Style Meat Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juicy-marbles-meaty-meat.md) - [Plant-Based Food Ingredient Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/viamia-products.md) - [Dairy-Identical Protein Powders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/animal-free-whey-protein-powder.md) - [Mycelium-Based Meatless Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meati-foods-animal-free-meat.md) - [Soy-Based Beef Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-beef.md)