Key Takeaways
- Mill’s appliance receives approval for a new animal feed ingredient definition from AAFCO.
- Food grounds can now be upcycled into chicken feed, promoting sustainable waste management.
- Mill partners with Tacoma, Washington, to pilot a new service for residents using its technology.
New Standards for Upcycling Food Waste
Last week, Mill, a company specializing in kitchen waste upcycling appliances, announced a significant milestone: the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has unanimously approved a novel feed ingredient definition for Dried Recovered Household Food. This decision is aided by a prior recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year.
This approval is a notable achievement for Mill, which promotes its service as a solution for redirecting food waste from landfills back into the food system via its output known as food grounds. The process involves heating and drying food scraps collected in Mill’s kitchen bins. Subsequently, these food grounds are sent to Mill to be transformed into chicken feed. With AAFCO validating this new ingredient category, Mill is setting a precedent for upcycling household food waste into animal feed.
The company has recently opened a facility in Mukilteo, Washington, dedicated to processing these food grounds into chicken feed. The choice of location, a Seattle suburb, may seem curious for a northern California startup; however, it aligns with Mill’s collaboration with Tacoma, Washington. This city is piloting a monthly service for residents, offering Mill bins along with the processing facilities.
While this AAFCO approval is a pivotal development in the emerging sector of food scrap upcycling, further procedural steps remain. The newly defined feed ingredient still requires two additional votes before it can be officially included in the AAFCO Official Publication planned for January 2024. Despite this, the committee’s vote and the FDA’s recommendation represent the most stringent regulatory evaluations and indicate growing confidence in this innovative definition.
This significant advancement not only opens up pathways for Mill but also raises questions about the future of the consumer food waste recycling industry. As Mill steps into this pioneering role, there may be opportunities for other companies in the sector to explore similar avenues for animal feed. Mill is unique as it combines both a home food scrap bin and associated services; however, there is potential for others to develop products in this evolving marketplace.
The content above is a summary. For more details, see the source article.