Fungi Perfecti LLC Earns Leading Living Wage Employer Certification
Host Defense® parent company ensures all employees receive a living wage
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Oct. 10, 2025) — Fungi Perfecti, LLC, makers of Host Defense® Mushrooms™, is proud to announce its official certification as a Leading Living Wage Employer by Living Wage For US. This prestigious designation affirms that every member of the company’s staff earns at or above the full family living wage for their location.
Last year, Fungi Perfecti partnered with Living Wage For US to undergo a comprehensive evaluation of its total compensation package—including base pay, company-sponsored medical benefits, 401(k) retirement plans and matching contributions, discretionary bonuses, and commission structures. The analysis confirmed that Fungi Perfecti’s compensation model meets and exceeds the living wage thresholds across all its positions.
“Paying a living wage is about dignity, equity, and integrity,” said Shanna Brown, VP of People at Fungi Perfecti. “We’re proud of this commitment.”
This recognition aligns with Fungi Perfecti’s longstanding ethos of supporting people, planet, and community through responsible business practices. In addition to offsetting 110% of its carbon footprint, operating as a Certified B Corporation, and reinvesting over $1 million annually into scientific research, Fungi Perfecti ensures its success is shared with the people who make it possible.
What Is a Living Wage?
According to the Global Living Wage Coalition, a living wage is qualified as “the remuneration received for a standard workweek by a worker in a particular place sufficient to afford a decent standard of living for the worker and their family.” This standard, which Living Wage For US adheres to in its certification process, requires a living wage to afford earners the means to meet the essential needs of themselves and their families.
By this criterion, Leading Living Wage Employers must provide compensation that ensures their employees have the ability to obtain adequate food, water, housing, health care, transportation, education, and clothing—among other essentials—while also providing a cushion for unexpected expenses. Unlike the legal minimum wage, which often falls short of real-world living costs, the living wage is independently calculated each year to reflect the actual cost of living required for a given community. Current rates are published at www.livingwageforus.org.
About Fungi Perfecti, LLC—Makers of Host Defense® Mushrooms™
Fungi Perfecti, LLC is a family-owned company founded by internationally renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, who launched Host Defense® under Fungi Perfecti with the goal of building a bridge between people and fungi. Host Defense is now the leading mushroom supplement brand in the U.S., specializing in mushroom mycelium-based supplements designed to support human health. Its product line reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability, scientific integrity, research, and education.*
Fungi Perfecti has become synonymous with cutting-edge mycological research and solutions—from water filtration (mycofiltration) and ecological rehabilitation (mycoremediation) to combating Colony Collapse Disorder in bees. A Certified B Corporation, Fungi Perfecti is third-party designated as Climate Positive, offsetting 110% of its carbon emissions. Follow Host Defense and Fungi Perfecti on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Host Defense® Receives INFRA’s Vendor Impact Award and Additional Awards from Taste for Life Magazine
Mushroom supplement category leader honored by Independent Natural Food Retailers Association as well as by leading health publication Taste for Life
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Sept. 9, 2025) — Host Defense®, the #1 best-selling mushroom supplement brand in the U.S. based on SPINS data, has just been honored with three major industry accolades.
The Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) presented Host Defense with its Vendor Impact Award, recognizing the company’s leadership in sustainability, innovation, and retailer education. In addition, MycoBenefits™ Focus*, one of Host Defense’s newest product innovations, was named a winner in Taste for Life’s Back-to-School Essentials Awards for its formula designed to support attention, clarity, and concentration. Most recently, MycoBenefits™ Mood* was also honored by Taste for Life in its September Remedies Happiness (Avoid SAD) Essentials Awards, celebrating it as a standout solution to support a peaceful emotional state and balanced mood.*
"These awards affirm our mission to advance the science, sustainability, efficacy, and accessibility of beneficial mushroom mycelium and fruiting bodies," said Betsy Bullman, Host Defense Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We’re proud to partner with independent retailers, innovate in ways that matter, and deliver products that help people thrive naturally. We appreciate the recognition from these distinguished organizations."*
INFRA Vendor Impact Award
With over 350 member retailers and 600 store locations across the country, INFRA is a cooperative of independently owned natural food stores working together to strengthen the success of their businesses.
The Vendor Impact Award celebrates brands that embody INFRA’s values:
Innovative Leadership: Pushing the boundaries of sustainability, retail innovation, and business excellence.
Nourishing Communities: Supporting independent retailers and strengthening local economies.
Forward Momentum: Demonstrating strong sales growth and purposeful expansion.
Regenerative Impact: Leading in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and climate-conscious initiatives.
Advocacy & Access: Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion while making sustainable, healthy food accessible to all.
Host Defense was chosen for its unmatched sustainability efforts. Climate Positive, the company offsets its carbon footprint by 110%—that’s 10% more emissions offset than the organization produces itself. Host Defense also sources energy from renewables like wind and hydroelectric, utilizes recycled plastics in packaging wherever possible, and commits to deforestation-free practices. The company invests in Life Cycle Analyses to further improve packaging efficiency and is developing a green transportation plan to reduce shipping impacts.
Beyond environmental business practices, Host Defense sets the bar for retailer education—hosting nearly 20 live webinars monthly, offering free products to attendees, and providing extensive training for retail staff. The brand’s research-backed formulations and category-defining product innovation continue to shape trends in the mushroom supplement space.
Taste for Life Awards
Reaching nearly 1 million readers, Taste for Life is a leading natural health and wellness magazine and online platform with over 25 years of editorial history.
The Taste for Life Back-to-School Essentials Award for MycoBenefits™ Focus* spotlights the formula’s unique blend of organic mushroom mycelium—including Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi—with targeted botanicals and nutrients to promote mental clarity, attention, and calm energy for students, professionals, and anyone seeking daily cognitive support. This recognition underscores Host Defense’s expertise in creating functional, multi-benefit wellness solutions.*
And the Taste for Life September Remedies Happiness (Avoid SAD) Essentials Awards recognizing MycoBenefits™ Mood* is a reflection of Host Defense’s ongoing commitment to formulating high-quality products. The formula uses Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushroom mycelium alongside other supportive adaptogens like Ashwagandha and L-Theanine to aid mental energy, mood, and calm thinking. It's a multi-ingredient formula that fits seamlessly into a self-care wellness routine and promotes a balanced mood, calm body, and clear mind.*
About Fungi Perfecti, LLC—Maker of Host Defense® Mushrooms™
Fungi Perfecti, LLC is a family-owned company founded by internationally renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, who launched Host Defense® under Fungi Perfecti with the goal of building a bridge between people and fungi. Host Defense is now the leading mushroom supplement brand in the U.S., specializing in mushroom mycelium-based supplements and functional beverage mixes designed to support human health. Its product line reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability, scientific integrity, research, and education.*
Fungi Perfecti has become synonymous with cutting-edge mycological research and solutions—from water filtration (mycofiltration) and ecological rehabilitation (mycoremediation) to combating Colony Collapse Disorder in bees. A Certified B Corporation, Fungi Perfecti is third-party designated as Climate Positive, offsetting 110% of its carbon emissions. Follow Host Defense and Fungi Perfecti on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Host Defense® Founder Paul Stamets to Appear on Three Major Podcasts This Summer
Stamets Brings Mushroom Science to Millions Through Top-Ranked Podcasts and New Book Release
OLYMPIA, Wash. (June 3, 2025) — Fungi Perfecti, LLC, the pioneering company behind Host Defense® Mushrooms™ — the leading mushroom supplement brand in the U.S. — announces that its founder, world-renowned mycologist and entrepreneur Paul Stamets, will be featured on several major podcasts this summer in support of his newly released book, Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats.
Stamets is set to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience June 24, where he’ll discuss his decades of scientific research, the future of fungi-based medicine, and the critical role mushrooms play in planetary health. Ahead of that, he will join Grammy-winning artist Kacey Musgraves on the Sing for Science podcast on June 22, exploring the intersection of music, mycology, and sustainability. On July 3, Stamets will also be featured on The Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown podcast, bringing his insights on mushrooms, mental health, and longevity to a wider audience.
A Pivotal Moment for Mushroom Science
These appearances follow Host Defense’s recent honor — the Taste for Life 2025 Longevity Essentials Award for Mycobenefits™ Focus* supplements — recognizing the company's commitment to advancing wellness through scientifically supported mushroom supplements.*
The recognition comes at an exciting time for Stamets and Host Defense, as interest in mushroom-based health solutions continues to grow. In response to increasing curiosity and conversation around the role of mycelium, Host Defense draws on decades of research and clinical data to spotlight its significant benefits for immune and neurological support. Stamets emphasizes the value of mycelium as a powerful and intentional part of the formulation and advocates for accurate, transparent labeling across the industry. By encouraging standardized testing for key compounds like beta-glucans and promoting a science-first approach, Stamets and Host Defense continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to education and consumer empowerment in the mushroom wellness space.*
About Host Defense®
Host Defense® is the leading mushroom supplement brand in the U.S. Its parent company Fungi Perfect, LLC is a family-owned company founded by internationally renowned mycologist Paul Stamets. Host Defense specializes in mushroom mycelium-based supplements and functional beverage mixes designed to support human health, and its parent company Fungi Perfecti has become synonymous with cutting-edge mycological research and solutions, from water filtration (mycofiltration) and ecological rehabilitation (mycoremediation) to combating Colony Collapse Disorder in bees. Host Defense® products reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability, scientific integrity, research and education. Fungi Perfecti is a Certified B Corporation and is third-party designated as Climate Positive, offsetting 110% of their carbon emissions. Its mission is to build a bridge between people and fungi in service of people and the planet. Follow Host Defense and Fungi Perfecti on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042