GOOD Meat's Cultivated Chicken Receives FDA Clearance in the US

San Francisco-based food technology company, GOOD Meat has become the second US company to gain clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its cell-based meat. The FDA approved the cultivated chicken as safe for consumption, marking a significant milestone for the company as it moves closer to bringing its cultivated meat products to market.

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Credit:GOOD Meat

GOOD Meat, a San Francisco-based food technology company, has become the second US company to receive clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its cell-based meat.

The "no questions" letter, from the FDA, means that the regulatory body agrees with the assessment made by the company that its cultivated chicken is deemed safe for consumption. 

“We have no questions at this time regarding GOOD Meat’s conclusion that foods comprised of or containing cultured chicken cell material resulting from the production process defined in [GOOD Meat’s application] are as safe as comparable foods produced by other methods,” the no questions letter reads.

Cell-based meat, also known as cultured meat, is created using animal cells to grow muscle tissue in a lab, which can then be harvested and processed into various meat products. This emerging industry has the potential to revolutionize the way we produce and consume meat, offering a more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional animal agriculture. 

Credit: GOOD Meat

This announcement marks a significant milestone for the company, as it moves closer to bringing its cultivated meat products to market. It follows a similar announcement for fellow food tech company, Upside Foods, who received a ‘no questions’ verdict on a cell-based meat product in November 2022.

GOOD Meat’s cultivated chicken was the first in the world to receive regulatory approval, which was granted by the Singapore Food Agency in 2020. It remains the only cultivated meat producer with the ability to sell to consumers. Since its launch, the company’s chicken has been featured on menus at fine dining establishments, popular hawker stalls, via the foodpanda delivery platform, and most recently by reservation at Huber’s Butchery, one of Singapore’s premier producers and suppliers of high-quality meats.

With the FDA's green light, GOOD Meat could now become the first company in the US to commercially sell cell-based meat. When that time comes, GOOD Meat’s chicken will be served at a Washington, D.C. restaurant owned and operated by GOOD Meat board member and chef José Andrés.

“Since Singapore approved GOOD Meat for sale, we knew this moment was next. 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 and its parent company, Eat Just. 

“The future of our planet depends on how we feed ourselves…and we have a responsibility to look beyond the horizon for smarter, sustainable ways to eat. GOOD Meat is doing just that, pushing the boundary on innovative new solutions, and I’m excited for everyone to taste the result,” said Andrés.

Vítor Espírito Santo, the senior director of Eat Just’s cellular agriculture division told Food Dive the no-questions letter was the conclusion of a years-long in-depth review process into the safety and production process for its cultivated chicken. “The Singapore approval was a big, big deal. But it’s undeniable that the U.S., the FDA approval is something that we were looking forward [to] for many years, and I think it’s a big game changer for the industry,” he said. “We have two countries now. Hopefully, now this keeps happening in more and more jurisdictions, and cultivated meat can become a reality worldwide.”

Credit: GOOD Meat

GOOD Meat will now work with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to complete the remaining regulatory steps that will allow cultivated meat to be sold to consumers in the US market. Experts predict cultivated meat could become a $25 billion global industry by 2030.

“Today’s news is more than just another regulatory decision – it’s food system transformation in action,” Bruce Friedrich, president of The Good Food Institute, said in a statement. “GOOD Meat has become the second cultivated meat company to receive the go-ahead from FDA for its cultivated chicken, bringing cultivated meat closer to becoming a real choice for American consumers. 

“Consumers and future generations deserve the foods they love made more sustainably and in ways that benefit the public good – ways that preserve our land and water, that protect our climate and global health, ways that allow for food security. Global demand for meat is projected to increase significantly by 2050. A few governments around the world are beginning to prioritize alternative proteins as a solution that accounts for this growing consumer demand while also achieving national climate and development goals, but far more need to follow suit.”

In 2023 and beyond, Species Unite will continue to champion the solutions including cultivated meat that can help transition the world away from animal products. Join our community by becoming a member today and check out our Future of Food podcast episodes to learn more about cellular agriculture.

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