The US FDA has cleared cultivated meat company GOOD Meat to bring its lab-grown chicken to market, agency documents showed. The firm’s chicken is the second cultivated meat that has received a “no-questions” letter after California-based UPSIDE Foods got the approval for its cultivated chicken breast in November. The letter means FDA considers the product safe for human consumption. (vallartainfo.com)
The FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture must both approve cultured meat before it can be sold by the numerous enterprises attempting to bring it to the American market.
After California-based UPSIDE Foods received FDA approval for its genetically modified chicken breast in November, GOOD Meat’s chicken is the second genetically modified meat product to do so. The letter indicates that the FDA agrees with the company’s assessment that its product is OK for human consumption.
“We have no questions at this time regarding GOOD Meat’s conclusion that foods comprised of or containing cultured chicken cell material [are] as safe as comparable foods produced by other methods,” the agency said in a March 20 letter to the company.
Known for his work on ensuring global food security, chef José Andrés’ restaurants will be the first places GOOD Meat wants to offer its product. Since 2020, the business has been selling its chicken on a limited basis in Singapore.
“I am so proud to bring this new way of making meat to my country and to do it with a hero of mine, Chef José Andrés,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder, and CEO of GOOD Meat, in a statement.
A small sample of animal cells is used to create the meat, which is then given nutrients and developed in steel vats before being chopped into meat pieces. Companies that produce cultured meat claim that their product has positive environmental effects since it may reduce the 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions that come from livestock.