Axiom Foods debuts new rice protein Oryzatein 2.0

Image | adobe.stock/Moving Moment

In a February 2025 press release, plant-based protein and milk ingredients provider Axiom Foods announced the debut of Oryzatein 2.0. The patented plant protein features enhanced solubility, a gritless texture, and a white color. It is also available in an Isolate and organic version.

The debut coincides with the release of the report from the Clean Label Project, “Best and Worst Protein Powder Products,” which notes that the highest level of heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead, was found in plant proteins. According to testing from Dyad Labs, Oryzatein 2.0 contains no detectable levels of heavy metals.

“Though we commend The Clean Label Project for its vigilant watchdog role, their findings are inconsequential as they did not provide any levels in their report,” stated Food Scientist, Rick Ray, in the press release. “No one adds heavy metals into food products, but all plants contain naturally occurring organic levels of constituents in the soil, which include organic arsenic and cadmium. The report mentions Proposition 65’s (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) maximum allowable levels (MADL), which lists guidelines for inorganic arsenic, cadmium and lead compounds. So, what really matters is if organic or inorganic heavy metals are present at toxic levels, which, for Axiom Foods, has never been the case. Despite this, Oryzatein 2.0 has been engineered to eliminate the natural occurring constituents to 0.05 parts per million, reaching a point where the instruments are incapable of detecting them.”

As noted in the press release, according to California’s Proposition 65 the maximum allowable levels for arsenic, cadmium, and lead are 10 micrograms per day, 4.1 micrograms per day, and 0.5 micrograms per day, respectively.

“Axiom was first to market with plant protein ingredients before this trend gained momentum, propelling the plant-based food industry to a $77 billion valuation,” stated Axiom Foods founder and CEO David Janow. “Through rigorous sourcing, manufacturing and clinical testing, we have worked hard to educate formulators, buyers and consumers, alike. We are immensely proud of the progress we have made in developing Oryzatein 2.0, which has successfully eliminated any trace of heavy metals. Given the recent report by The Clean Label Project, which highlights the growing demand for transparent food labeling, we are confident that food manufacturers will be delighted to share this achievement with their consumers. In the food industry, our primary responsibility is to disclose the composition of our products. This entails comparing the levels of ingredients to appropriate serving sizes.”

Watch our recent interview with David Janow as he explains more details on Oryzatein 2.0 at Expo West 2025.