During a March 29 budget hearing for the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf mentioned climate change and suggested that the use of biotechnology in food (including cell-cultured meat) is an area of ”huge interest” that could help. Mitigate these problems.
Califf’s comments quickly sparked outrage from the US cattle industry, which accused the commissioner of inappropriately promoting an environmental policy and endorsing farmed meat products.
“The use of biotechnology in food is a huge area that we are all interested in”
Wednesday, Calif. TTestified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. During the hearing, Representative Julia Letlow (R-LA) asked the commissioner how the agency plans to coordinate with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on pre-market consultations to review cell-cultured chicken products.
In response, Caliph said, “It’s a very complex area…as we look at climate change and supply chain disruption, the use of biotechnology in food is a huge area that we’re all interested in. There’s no getting around it.”
He added, “We expect to see many more applications in this arena, so we’ll all learn as we go along, but I think we have a good [regulatory] protocol.”
Beef industry response
Califf’s comments provoked a strong backlash from US animal agriculture interests, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, who say the FDA is overstepping its authority to regulate farmed meat products instead of working more closely with the USDA.
“By its own admission, FDA’s role is to ensure food safety, but Commissioner Califf’s comments today indicate that he wants to bring his agency into climate and environmental discussions while promoting cell-cultured meat,” said Ethan Lane, NCBA’s vice president of government affairs. “We commend Congresswoman Letlow for bringing these related issues to the FDA and hope that Commissioner Califf will coordinate with the United States Department of Agriculture on the regulation of these cell-culture alternatives.”
According to a 2019 memorandum of understanding, the FDA and USDA JUSDA has sole jurisdiction over farmed meat products with leadership in proper labeling and food safety enforcement.
positive attitude
Despite the livestock industry’s misgivings, Califf’s comments suggest a positive outlook for biotechnology companies looking to work with the FDA on future regulation of farmed and fermented food products.
After last week’s second premarket approval of farmed chicken for good meat, the FDA said it was It is “ready to work with additional companies that are making food from cultured animal cells” and it will “issue guidance to help companies that want to make human food made from cultured animal cells.”
The Catamen’s Association called the statement “extremely troubling” and said it further indicates “FDA’s willingness to promote excess cell-cultured meat products.”