TED Health Collagen's dirty secret — and its clean future | Fei Luo
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Sep 30, 2025 
Fei Luo, a chemical engineer and the founder of Liven, explores the untold truths of collagen sources. She discusses her innovative approach to brewing animal-free collagen using genetically modified yeast, a game-changer for both food and cosmetics. Luo also explains how traditional collagen extraction is ethically questionable and details the exciting potential of her techniques for creating sustainable, tasty alternatives. Imagine a future filled with luxurious collagen-rich snacks and slaughter-free options that everyone can enjoy!
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Slaughter-Free Bone Broth Tasting
- Fei Luo described a bone broth tasting in Los Angeles made with no animal slaughter using brewed collagen.
- She used this story to show animal-free collagen can reproduce familiar flavors and textures.
Collagen's Massive Role In Diets
- Collagen is the most abundant protein and constitutes about 30% of total animal proteins.
- We already consume at least a million metric tons of collagen annually through meat.
How Industrial Collagen Is Made
- The industry converts carcasses into gelatin via boiling in strong acid, then hydrolyzes it into collagen peptides.
- Many mainstream products rely on these animal-derived ingredients with no close alternatives today.