Topline
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of chicken made from animal cells Wednesday, allowing two companies to reportedly bring “lab-grown” meat to upscale U.S. restaurants in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., following increased popularity of sustainable alternatives to slaughtered meat.
GOOD Meat and Upside Foods, two California companies that sell the “lab-grown” meat, received final … [+] approval from the USDA on Wednesday.
Key Facts
GOOD Meat and Upside Foods, two California companies that sell the “lab-grown” meat, received final approval from the USDA on Wednesday, months after the Food and Drug Administration said the products were safe to eat.
Instead of the meat coming from slaughtered animals, it is grown using cells from a living animal—the products are not vegan, vegetarian or plant-based—since they are real meat but without the animal being slaughtered.
GOOD Meat described the approval as “a groundbreaking moment for cultivated meat,” and Upside Food said the “world-changing moment brings our vision one giant bite closer to reality.”
While the approval is historic, it will likely be years before Americans see the cultivated chicken in grocery stores as production will be limited—Upside’s facility can currently produce only up to 50,000 pounds of cultivated meat products per year, officials told the Associated Press.
Both companies that received approval Wednesday plan to first serve the “lab-grown” meat exclusively in restaurants in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, the Associated Press reported.
Upside has an agreement to serve its lab-grown meat at Bar Crenn in San Francisco, while GOOD Meat will partner with chef Jose Andrés to serve its meat at a restaurant he operates in D.C.
Key Background
Both companies had been working through the U.S. regulatory process for years and received FDA approval in the last two years. Wednesday’s announcement of USDA approval was the final test before the California companies could begin serving their chicken.
Tangent
On top of the benefits from slaughtering fewer animals each year, some advocates also argue that cultivated meat could help slow climate change. About 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from industrial animal farming, according to the United Nations. Additionally, the transportation needed for agriculture emits carbon dioxide and methane, which could be reduced if cultivated meat becomes more popular.
Big Number
50%. That’s the percentage of U.S. adults who said they were unlikely to try meat grown using cells from animals, according to a recent poll conducted by the AP and the NORC Center for Public Affairs and Research. Most respondents said their reluctance was because “it just sounds weird,” and about half of respondents said they didn’t think it would be safe, the AP reported.
Surprising Fact
Singapore became the first country to legally allow lab-cultivated meat to be sold in 2020.
Further Reading
Singapore Becomes First Country To Approve Sale Of Lab-Grown Meat (Reuters)
