Get All Access for $5/mo

FDA Gives Safety Green Light to Lab-Grown Meat Startup Upside Foods still requires additional approval from the Agriculture Department' to begin sales to consumers.

By Steve Huff

Tek Image | Getty Images

California startup Upside Foods just cleared a major hurdle in bringing its lab-cultured chicken to a sandwich near you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a press release published Wednesday that the agency had completed its "first pre-market consultation of a human food made from cultured animal cells."

The FDA cleared Upside to continue creating meat products with its animal cell culture technology. Though the company still needs approval to sell its lab-grown chicken (or seafood or meat), the FDA has concluded by analyzing how Upside produces its meat that it is safe for consumption. The agency does not question its safety.

This is a significant step forward for producers of meat grown from cultured cells. Upside Foods founder Uma Valeti said in a statement that the company has "made history ... as the first company to receive a 'No Questions' letter from the FDA for cultivated meat."

"This milestone marks a major step towards a new era in meat production," Valeti said, "and I'm thrilled that U.S. consumers will soon have the chance to eat delicious meat that's grown directly from animal cells."

Upside Foods still has another major milestone to go, however, to receive permission to sell its product. In addition to FDA approval, the company also needs approval from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Steve Huff

Entrepreneur Staff

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Living

70% of Small Business Owners Experience Monthly Burnout. Follow These 3 Rules to Avoid the Same Fate.

Here are three guidelines to help entrepreneurs achieve balance, growth and success in both their professional and personal endeavors.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.