FDA gives safety green light to lab-grown meat startup

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California startup Upside Foods just cleared a major hurdle by bringing their lab-grown chicken to a sandwich near you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a press release on Wednesday that the agency has completed its "first premarket consultation on a human food made from cultured animal cells." /p>

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The FDA has cleared Upside to continue creating meat products with its animal cell culture technology. Although the company still needs approval to sell its lab-grown chicken (or seafood or meat), the FDA concluded by analyzing how Upside produces its meat that it is safe for consumption. . The agency does not question its safety.

This is a significant step forward for producers of cultured meat from cultured cells. Upside Foods founder Uma Valeti said in a statement that the company has "made history...as the first company to receive a 'no questions asked' letter from the FDA for cultured meat." .

“This milestone marks a major step toward a new era in meat production,” Valeti said, “and I am thrilled that American consumers will soon have the opportunity to eat delicious meat derived directly from animal cells. "

Upside Foods has yet another important step to take, however, to receive approval to sell its product. In addition to FDA approval, the company also needs approval from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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