Incidentally, and in our article published a few hours ago, UPSIDE Foods is actually the second farmed meat company in the US to receive label approval from the USDA, not the first, the company claimed in its widely distributed press release. Today.
After publishing UPSIDE news on us and other platforms, Eat Just contacted vegconomist to set the record straight: “Good Meat (Eat Just’s farming arm) received our label approval on June 8,” says Food Tech of California, adding that the company was not planning to make any announcements until after it received it. permission to inspect, Regulatory approval represents the final step in the process.
What came first, the chicken or the chicken?
Reuters was the first publication to clarify the distinction, responding to UPSIDE’s news earlier today that it was “the second US company to confirm the approval.”
Vegconomist wanted to get more clarification on this interesting situation where two companies operating in the same field seem to be fighting neck-and-neck in the race to bring slaughter-free chicken to the US market. It’s an admirable race, that’s for sure.
It Just’s Head of Global Communications and Public Affairs, Andrew Noyes, provides the following details.
What is the approved label wording and for what type of product?
We have had several months of insightful and productive conversations with USDA and appreciate their thoughtfulness during this regulatory process. We’ve shared with them, as we’ve said publicly, that “cultivating” is our preferred word and the preferred word for much of the global industry. This term is well understood in Singapore, where people have been enjoying good meat in restaurants for more than two years. That said, the USDA-approved label for our first product at launch will be “cell-farmed chicken.”
As we announcementWorld-renowned chef and humanitarian Jose Andres will be the first in the country to offer our chicken to customers at a restaurant in Washington, DC Andres is the chef/owner of the Jose Andres Group, which operates more than 30 restaurants across the country.
We understand that these chickens rely on FBS – is this still the case? When a product is developed that is completely slaughter-free, will approval be required again?
As in Singapore, we will submit an amendment to our FDA filing. Better Meat earlier this year received the world’s first regulatory approval from the Singapore Food Agency to use serum-free media for cultured meat production.
These technological and regulatory milestones will lead to greater scalability, lower manufacturing costs and more sustainable products. It also paves the way for larger quantities of real, high-quality chicken made from cells rather than slaughtered animals. Generally, our research and development activities are free from animal derived nutrients for more than three years.
A timeline of events
October 2020
Eat Just reveals plans for $120 million facility in Singapore and plans to enter cultured meat.
December 2020
When EatJust Singapore was allowed to sell farmed chicken nuggets, Singapore became the first country in the world to allow the sale of farmed meat.
December 2021
Eat Just has received regulatory approval for its farm-raised chicken breasts in Singapore. Customers were able to sample farm-raised chicken breasts at the JW Marriott Hotel in Singapore’s South Beach.
February 2022
Singapore’s famous food hawker stalls started selling good meat chicken to the public.
June 2022
Good Meat is based in Asia’s largest farmed meat facility.
November 2022
UPSIDE Foods gets approval Ac from the US FDA for its farmed chickens, the first time in the worldompany received a no-questions-asked letter for farmed meat, poultry or seafood.
“Before entering the US market, the food must meet other federal requirements,” the FDA document states. The products were granted Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status and UPSIDE is awaiting a No Further Questions letter from the FDA awaiting further evidence of its safety.
March 2023
Eat Just/GOOD Meat receives a no-questions-asked letter from the US FDA, marking the first time a farmed meat product has received regulatory approval on multiple continents.
8th June 2023
Only eats/gets good meat USDA label approval Sales of its farmed chickens in the United States are pending a Permission to inspect. “We begins work toward that end and formal grant of inspection prior to FDA’s “no questions” letter. The USDA District Office has been familiar with our processes and products and their staff has been cooperative throughout the process.” The company is waiting for the GoI before releasing a statement.
12th June 2023
UPSIDE FOODS YOU RECEIVESDA label approval.
14th June 2023:
UPSIDE released a media statement describing the label approval and saying it is working with the USDA to obtain a grant of inspection for its facility as the final step in the pre-market regulatory process. The GOI will ensure that the plant meets federal operating requirements for meat and poultry facilities.
The UPSIDE press release states: “With an approved label in hand, UPSIDE is working with the USDA to obtain a Grant of Inspection (GOI) for its Engineering, Production and Innovation Center (EPIC). Obtaining this GOI will be the final step in the regulatory process before the company sells its farmed chickens, starting with Dominic Crane’s Bar Crane restaurant in San Francisco.”
UPSIDE FOOD It aims to make its farmed meat available to consumers this year.