UPSIDE Foods Receives First USDA Label Approval for Cell Cultured Chicken

Cultivated meat company UPSIDE Foods announced today that it has received the first-ever label approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its farmed chicken product, according to a release sent to The Spoon. The approval comes half a year after the company became the first company to receive the GRAS green light for its cultured meats from the USDA.

Cell-cultured meat falls under the same USDA labeling requirements as conventional meat products, and the company’s USDA label approval shows that its farmed chicken is in full compliance with the governing agency’s pre-market labeling requirements. This means that after inspection the packaging of UPSIDE’s chicken products will carry the USDA mark of inspection. The USDA label will use the term “cell-cultured chicken” to describe UPSIDE’s product to distinguish it from meat grown using conventional farming methods.

Along with label approval, UPSIDE is working to secure the final regulatory step before the company can begin selling its meat to consumers, including a Grant of Inspection (GOI), EPIC (Engineering , Production, and Innovation Center). At this final milestone, the company can proceed with commercial sales of its product. UPSIDE previously announced that it would first sell its chicken at the Bar Cran restaurant in San Francisco. The company has not indicated when it will receive its GOI, but has previously indicated that it expects to sell its meat to consumers this year.

UPSIDE continues to outpace most startups seeking US regulatory approval for its meat product with a first shot under its belt. Of course, much of that success can be attributed to the company’s regulatory affairs group, which is headed by former FDA regulator (and food scientist) Eric Schultz. You can listen to my 2021 conversation with Eric on The Spoon Podcast below.

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