UPSIDE Foods Makes History as First Company Approved to Sell Cultivated Meat in the U.S.
Company cleared to start commercial production at its Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC).
UPSIDE Foods, a leading cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company, announced June 21 that it has completed the pre-market regulatory review process for its cultivated chicken after obtaining a Grant of Inspection (GOI) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This follows its announcement earlier this month that its label has been approved by USDA. With this approval, UPSIDE Foods can now start commercial production and sales of its cultivated chicken, taking a historic step towards building a more humane, sustainable, and resilient food system.
In November 2022, UPSIDE Foods became the first company in the world to receive the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s green light for cultivated meat. The GOI and label approval from USDA means that UPSIDE Foods has demonstrated compliance with USDA regulations for food safety and labeling of poultry products. Since cultivated chicken is grown directly from real chicken cells, the company is subject to similar rigorous inspections and food safety standards as conventionally-produced poultry. Having obtained full regulatory clearance in the U.S. for its cultivated chicken, UPSIDE Foods can now begin commercial production at its Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC). UPSIDE will make its market debut with a whole-textured chicken product that is over 99% cultivated chicken cells.
"I'm thrilled to share that cultivated meat will now be available for consumers in the U.S.," said Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of UPSIDE Foods. "This approval will fundamentally change how meat makes it to our table. It's a giant step forward towards a more sustainable future - one that preserves choice and life. We are excited to launch with our signature, whole-textured UPSIDE chicken and can't wait for consumers to taste the future."
Following this regulatory approval, UPSIDE processed the first order of its cultivated chicken, placed by three-Michelin-star Chef Dominique Crenn. UPSIDE's cultivated chicken will be launched in the U.S. in limited quantities through select restaurant partners, starting with Chef Crenn's restaurant Bar Crenn in San Francisco.