New paths in gastronomy: transparency on the plate during Veganuary

Berlin, January, 10, 2024: The service and catering company Dussmann and the traceability platform Seedtrace are creating transparency about the supply chain for Planted's plant-based schnitzel for the first time. These schnitzels will be served as a special offer in over 60 Dussmann company restaurants throughout Germany in January. Visitors can scan the QR code to trace the product's journey from the procurement of the basic ingredients to the finished dish.

The traceability of food in communal catering is not yet a legal requirement in Germany. However, corresponding regulations are already in force in the neighboring countries of Austria and Switzerland.

“With our Veganuary transparency project, we are deliberately going one step further. Our daily work confirms that it is becoming increasingly important for people to find out as much as possible about the origin of their food. Consumer decisions are not only made on the basis of ingredients and nutritional values, but increasingly also with regard to the supply chain”, says Christian Hamerle, Head of Food Service Innovation at Dussmann.

Food tech company Planted produces its plant-based "Schnitzel Wiener Art" exclusively from natural ingredients in Switzerland. It uses 87% less greenhouse gases and 90% less water than its meat-based equivalent*.

The complete production chain of Planted's plant-based schnitzel and the proven social and ecological impact factors is made traceable by the Seedtrace platform. The possibility of providing proof of fair payment in the cultivation area – a function that is particularly relevant for cocoa, coffee and nuts – is also represented on the platform.

"Transparency is the key to fairer and more sustainable food supply chains and is only possible through appropriate cooperation between all stakeholders. However, pressure is needed from various directions - not only from national and international regulations, but also from consumers. Here, the distance from the origin of the products to the menu is a huge hurdle", explains Ana Selina Haberbosch, CEO and Co-Founder of Seedtrace.

There are still a number of hurdles to overcome in order to achieve transparency on the canteen plate. For example, complex supply chains across national borders and continents make it difficult to trace, even for small food producers. There is a lack of legal requirements for disclosure and a demand for traceability systems, which is associated with corresponding investments on the part of the food service industry. This makes the cooperation between the food service industry, producers and transparency providers all the more important as a first step.

* This was determined by Eaternity, an independent expert in life cycle assessments.

About Seedtrace:
Seedtrace is a digital platform for transparency and traceability along the supply chain. It enables the management, verification and communication of information on the origin and processing of products with a focus on the food sector. The Seedtrace mission is for all players along the chain - suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers - to work together. For them, product transparency and proven impact become a competitive advantage. The company pays particular attention to making social and ecological impact factors along complex supply chains verifiable. This transparency enables conscious consumers to better understand the impact of their consumption behavior and at the same time enables everyone involved in production to benefit from their work. Seedtrace works on a long-term and holistic perspective. The aim is to rethink traceability from a sustainability perspective.

Press Contact Seedtrace:
Nadja Wolff (Head of Marketing)

Email: nadja@seedtrace.org

Phone: +49 160 97662662

About Dussmann:

Dussmann is the largest business division of the Dussmann Group, headquartered in Berlin and a solution partner in the areas of Facility Management, Food Services and Technical Solutions. Dussmann Food Services combines diverse and sustainable catering concepts for children, employees, patients and guests in retirement homes with warm hospitality. The "Food Service Innovation Lab" serves Dussmann as an internal service and transformation platform for innovation and sustainability topics. Recipes are created according to the rules of the Planetary Health Diet and with plant-based alternative products. Before the meals are rolled out in the communal restaurants, they are served in Europe's first PLANET!BASED restaurant "Ursprung" in Berlin's Dussmann Haus. This gives Dussmann clients the certainty that they will receive tried and tested, scalable meals.

Press Contact Dussmann:
Miranda Meier (Spokeswoman Dussmann)

Email: miranda.meier@dussmanngroup.com

Phone: +49 172 4005314

About Planted:

Planted uses advanced processing and fermentation technologies to produce meat from plant-based proteins, with a focus on delicious taste and a meaty and juicy texture. Planted is committed to using only natural ingredients and no additives in all its products. Planted is setting a whole new standard in the plant-based meat category, making it a healthy and sustainable choice for all. The Zurich-based FoodTech spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) was founded in 2019 and quickly built up intellectual property around its technological approach and currently holds several patents. Planted is a certified B Corp. Planted produces its meat mainly in a glasshouse production facility in Kemptthal (near Zurich), the first transparent meat production facility open to the public.

Press Contact Planted:
Vicky Kummer (Head of Corporate Communications)

Email: press@eatplanted.com