The US Food and Drug Administration has approved cell-cultured chicken grown in a lab for human consumption.
Following an inspection by the US Department of Agriculture, Upside Foods’ lab-grown chicken, which has been made using cells harvested from live animals, is permitted to be sold to consumers. This is reportedly the first company in the world to receive a ‘No Questions’ letter from the US FDA for cultivated meat, poultry, or seafood. According to the company, the agency has “no further questions at this time”.
“The world is experiencing a food revolution and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is committed to supporting innovation in the food supply. As an example of that commitment, today we are announcing that we have completed our first pre-market consultation of a human food made from cultured animal cells,” wrote the US FDA.
“This is a watershed moment in the history of food,” said Dr Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of Upside Foods. “We started Upside amid a world full of sceptics, and today, we’ve made history…I’m thrilled that U.S. consumers will soon have the chance to eat delicious meat that’s grown directly from animal cells.”