The cellular agriculture industry has undergone a major shift with the recent clearance of lab-grown chicken by the FDA. Two companies, Upside Foods and Eat Just, have received FDA confirmation for the safety of their cultured chicken products, marking a significant milestone in the alternative protein industry.

Cultured meat, commonly referred to as lab-grown meat, is produced by growing animal cells in a lab and feeding those cells nutrients so they can grow and multiply. Cellular agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the food industry by providing a more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional meat production and in the case of our company, coffee and chocolate production. 

What are lab-grown, or “cultured” products?

Cell-based products are created in a laboratory using plant or animal cells. A sample of cells are taken from livestock without harming them and these cells are then grown in a nutrient-rich environment where they multiply and in the case of animal cells, form muscle tissue. The end result is a product that looks, tastes, and cooks like traditional meat, but without the need for raising and slaughtering animals. 

Lab-grown products have the potential to greatly reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Livestock farming is responsible for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as water and land use. Traditional livestock accounts for nearly one-sixth of global greenhouse gas emissions. By moving the production of livestock indoors and inside tanks, we could drastically reduce these impacts, while still enjoying the taste and texture of meat without harming animals. 

FDA Regulation of Lab-Grown Products

The FDA is responsible for regulating the safety and labeling of food products in the US. In 2018, the FDA held a public meeting to discuss the regulation of lab-grown meat. At the meeting, they clarified that they would regulate lab-grown meat products in the same way as traditional meat products.

In March 2019, the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a joint statement outlining their plan for regulating lab-grown meat products. The statement confirmed that the FDA would oversee the production and labeling of lab-grown meat, while the USDA would oversee the marketing and labeling of the products.

The FDA stated that they would evaluate the safety of lab-grown meat products through their voluntary premarket review process. This process involves a safety assessment of the product's ingredients, manufacturing process, and potential impact on the environment. The FDA also stated that they would evaluate lab-grown meat producer’s data on the composition and nutritional value of their products through a voluntary process. 

FDA Greenlight of Lab-Grown Meat Products

In December 2020, Eat Just's lab-grown meat was approved for sale in Singapore. This marked the first time that a lab-grown meat product had been approved for commercial sale anywhere in the world.

The product, called GOOD Meat Cultured Chicken, is made from a small amount of animal cells that are grown in a nutrient-rich culture medium. The cells multiply and form muscle tissue, which is then harvested and processed into meat products. The product is said to have the same taste and texture as traditional chicken, but with a much smaller environmental footprint.

In November 2022, the FDA announced that they had “no further questions” for Upside Foods after an evaluation of their lab-grown chicken. This marked a major milestone for the lab-grown meat industry, as it will be the first time that a lab-grown meat product has the potential to be offered for sale in the U.S.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service declined to share a timeline. “Cell-cultured meat and poultry products will be subject to the same food safety, sanitation and inspection regulations as other meat and poultry products to ensure that only safe and wholesome products enter U.S. commerce,” it said in a statement.

The FDA's conclusion of Upside Foods' lab-grown chicken was a significant step forward for the cellular agriculture industry and showed that the FDA is taking cell-based products seriously. This is a huge milestone for the cellular agriculture industry as a whole and brings California Cultured one step closer to getting our products into the hands of folks who desire a more ethical and sustainable cup of coffee or chocolate bar.