US regulators reached another alternative protein milestone on Wednesday when they approved that both Upside Foods as good meat sell their chicken products grown within the country.
Known as "cell-grown" or "cultured meat," these proteins are made from animal cells rather than from slaughtered animals and are often grown through a fermentation process involving bioreactors.
Upside Foods and Good Meat, both based in California, will now be able to serve their food, initially in restaurants. Upside has already received its first restaurant order and will provide limited quantities to Bar Crenn in San Francisco, while Good Meat has a partnership with a Washington, DC restaurant run by chef-owner José Andrés.
Today's approval follows the US Department of Agriculture's approval last week of how both companies would label their products.
Both companies also received an inspection grant from the USDA, Upside for its Center for Engineering, Manufacturing and Innovation, and Good Meat for its demonstration plant in Alameda, along with its contract manufacturing partner, JOINN Biologics. The inspection process includes examination of facilities and equipment; standard operating procedure for sanitation; and the systematic approach to the identification, evaluation and control of food safety hazards, according to Good Meat.
Before today, Singapore was the only country that allowed the sale of farmed chicken. Good Meat was the first company to gain approval to sell its US-grown chicken product and received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in March, joining Upside Foods as the only two companies to move to the next stage. marketing of its products in the US
Cultured meat is a complex process that is traditionally expensive and time consuming. Consumer tastes are also involved. Apart from Singapore and the US, some regions, such as the UK, are supporting this industry, while others, for example in Italy, question it.
Globally, there are dozens of companies that are not far behind in introducing cultured or cell-cultured meat products to the market, and following today's announcement, we are likely to see more companies speed their products through the regulatory process. In the US, companies must receive approval from both the US Food and Drug Administration and the USDA before marketing their products in the US.
Despite the challenges, some venture capitalists investing in the space continue to confident. In an investor survey they spoke specifically about companies that work with the US government.
One investor, Johnny Ream, a partner at Stray Dog Capital, noted that his firm encourages portfolio companies to engage with regulators early on and be transparent in their process.
“Having that open dialogue is critical to identifying regulatory risk factors that might be present and should inform product development strategy,” Ream said. “Without that commitment there will be a greater possibility of significant regulatory barriers and/or regulator education as a company approaches market entry.”
