The United States authorized Wednesday for the first time the marketing of chicken meat grown in laboratories by two companies, announced Wednesday, June 21, a spokesperson for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA has inspected and approved the food hygiene systems of Upside Foods and Good Meat, whose products will soon be available in certain restaurants, the two companies said.
The two companies had already obtained the approval of the agency responsible for food safety in the United States (FDA) in November, while the Ministry of Agriculture had already approved the conformity of the labels last week.
“A giant step towards a more sustainable future”
“This authorization will fundamentally change the way meat lands on our tables”said Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of Upside Foods who also praised “a giant step towards a more sustainable future” in a press release.
“We are the only company that sells lab-grown meat in the world, since we launched in Singapore in 2020, and now it is licensed for sale in the world’s leading power”rejoiced Josh Tetrick, the co-founder and CEO of Eat Just, the company behind Good Meat.
In the wake of the US clearance, Upside Foods received its first order from Michelin-starred French chef Dominique Crenn’s restaurant in San Francisco.
Celebrity chef José Andrés is expected to get the first batch from the Good Meat company.