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Met Foods, the producer behind dairy-free brands Nush Foods and Cocos Organic, has entered the functional wellness beverage category with the launch of Mushus, described as the UK’s first lightly sparkling skincare drink featuring vegan collagen.

Mushus is positioned at the intersection of beauty, gut health and functional beverages, reflecting growing consumer demand for ingestible wellness products that combine convenience with targeted health benefits.

The range debuts in two flavours, Raspberry Fizz and Pineapple Fizz, sold in 250ml six-packs priced at £20. Each lightly sparkling drink contains real fruit juice and is formulated with 3g of plant-based collagen, hyaluronic acid, clinically researched probiotic strain HU58 and organic tremella mushroom.

According to the company, the formulation is designed to support hydration, skin elasticity and the gut-skin axis, while offering a vegan alternative to traditional bovine and marine collagen products.

Met Foods said the vegan collagen ingredient uses a triple helix structure intended to mirror conventional collagen and claims the ingredient is up to five times more bioavailable than bovine alternatives due to its lightweight peptide structure.

The drinks contain no added sugar, artificial sweeteners or preservatives and are positioned as vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free, with fewer than 20 calories per 100ml.

Founder Bethany Eaton said: “I am so excited to bring Mushus to market as the first skincare drink of its kind, built around our three core ingredients. I wanted to simplify what can often feel like an overwhelming routine of supplements, and create something convenient, effective and enjoyable to take every day.”

She added that sustainability and sensory appeal were key reasons for choosing vegan collagen over animal-derived alternatives.

“For me, it’s about rethinking how we approach beauty and wellness, don’t take your skin supplements, drink them,” Eaton said.

The launch reflects continued momentum within the functional drinks category, where brands are increasingly targeting areas such as beauty, cognitive health, digestion and immunity with ingredient-led beverage innovations.

Mushus also taps into growing consumer interest in the “beauty-from-within” market, where products combining probiotics, collagen and hydration-focused ingredients are seeing rising demand among wellness-focused consumers.

The company said the drinks are designed to function both as a wellness supplement and a lifestyle beverage, combining functional ingredients with a format intended to feel more approachable than traditional capsules or powders.

Both Raspberry Fizz and Pineapple Fizz are intended to be consumed chilled as part of a daily wellness routine, with Met Foods positioning the range as a convenient option for consumers seeking multifunctional health support in ready-to-drink formats.