Current:Home > FinanceFDA gives 2nd safety nod to cultivated meat, produced without slaughtering animals-InfoLens
FDA gives 2nd safety nod to cultivated meat, produced without slaughtering animals
View Date:2024-12-23 11:25:39
GOOD Meat, a company that grows chicken and other meat from animal cells without slaughtering animals, has cleared a significant Food and Drug Administration safety hurdle. The clearance brings the company one step closer to selling its products in the U.S.
The regulatory agency issued a "no questions" letter as part of its pre-market consultation, which means the agency agrees with the company's conclusion that its cultivated chicken is safe to consume.
Now, the company must obtain a grant of inspection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to operate its production facility in Alameda, Calif. "We are working with the USDA to clear that last hurdle," GOOD Meat CEO Josh Tetrick told NPR by text.
The company says celebrity chef José Andrés has agreed to offer GOOD Meat's chicken to his customers at one of his restaurant in Washington, D.C. "It's going to be something when it lands in his restaurants," Tetrick said.
GOOD Meat has been selling its chicken in Singapore since 2020, but so far there are no foods made from cultured animal cells on the market in the U.S. As more than 80 companies stake a future in the space, the USDA and FDA have been working together on regulatory oversight to make sure that cultivated meats entering the U.S. market are safe and properly labeled.
"Today's news is more than just another regulatory decision — it's food system transformation in action," says Bruce Friedrich, president and founder of the Good Food Institute, a non-profit think tank that focuses on alternatives to traditional meat production. Friedrich points to the potential environmental benefits of cultivated meat.
"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, ways that protect our climate and global health," Friedrich says.
GOOD Meat's production facility looks like a brewery, filled with big, shiny, stainless-steel tanks. On a recent tour of the facility GOOD Meat scientist Vitor Espirito Santo explains how the meat is grown.
First they extract a bunch of cells from chickens. Then they feed the cells a mix of proteins, fats and carbohydrates — the same things the cells would get if they were in an animal's body. Then the cells start to proliferate and grow.
"Think about yeast fermentation," Espirito Santo says. "The processes are the same. We feed them with nutrients, and they will multiply until we tell them to stop," he says.
The meat grows inside the tanks on trays. After it comes out, it's molded into shapes such as nuggets or a fillet. After three to four weeks, they're ready for the grill.
GOOD Meat is the second cultivated meat company to receive FDA clearance.
Last fall, the agency made history when it informed UPSIDE Foods that it agreed with the company's assessment that its cultivated chicken is safe to eat.
UPSIDE Foods was co-founded by a cardiologist who believes growing meat from cells is a better way to bring meat to the table. During a tour last fall, Dr. Uma Valeti showed NPR's reporters around the facility, which is full of glass walls, and intended to signal transparency in the process. "To create a paradigm change, people should be able to walk through and see and believe it," he says.
UPSIDE Foods is also awaiting a mark of inspection from USDA.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- King Charles III celebrates 76th birthday amid cancer battle, opens food hubs
- Raise a Glass to These Photos of Prince William and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham Pub
- Gaza doctor says gunfire accounted for 80% of the wounds at his hospital from aid convoy bloodshed
- Lucky You, Kate Spade Outlet Has Effortlessly Cool Crossbodies Up to 75% off, Plus Score an Extra 25% off
- 2024 'virtually certain' to be warmest year on record, scientists say
- Monarch butterflies are not considered endangered. But a new study shows they are dwindling.
- Trove of ancient skulls and bones found stacked on top of each other during construction project in Mexico
- Harvard Business School grad targeted fellow alumni in Ponzi scheme, New York attorney general says
- Harriet Tubman posthumously honored as general in Veterans Day ceremony: 'Long overdue'
- Mary-Kate, Ashley and Elizabeth Olsen Prove They Have Passports to Paris With Rare Outing
Ranking
- Republican Vos reelected as Wisconsin Assembly speaker despite losing seats, fights with Trump
- Caitlin Clark, the Tiger Woods of women's basketball, changes everything for Indiana, WNBA
- Kylie Jenner's Knee-High Thong Heels Might Be Her Most Polarizing Look Yet
- The Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle has already burned 1.1 million acres. Here are the largest wildfires in U.S. history.
- Why Kathy Bates Decided Against Reconstruction Surgery After Double Mastectomy for Breast Cancer
- These Cute Swimsuits From Amazon Are All Under $40 & Will Have You Ready for a Beach Day
- Texas Panhandle wildfires leave dead animals everywhere as agricultural commissioner predicts 10,000 dead cattle
- Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's Son Moses Looks So Grown Up in Rare Photo
Recommendation
-
Here's what 3 toys were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year
-
Death of Jon Stewart's dog prompts flood of donations to animal shelter
-
Free People’s Warm Weather Staples Are Up To 66% Off - Plus Get Free Shipping & Deals Starting At $30
-
Davidson women's basketball team forfeits remainder of season because of injuries
-
Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
-
Nevada, northern California brace for blizzard, 'life-threatening' conditions
-
Where to watch Oscar-nominated movies from 'The Holdovers' to 'Napoleon'
-
Horoscopes Today, March 1, 2024