Lab-grown chicken is headed to American grocery stores sooner than you may think.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration officially gave the green light to GOOD Meat and its “cultured chicken cell material.” This manufactured food has been deemed safe for human consumption. Now, GOOD Meat just needs the final approval from the Agriculture Department before national grocers can begin selling the poultry. GOOD Meat’s chicken has already seen success in Singapore.
GOOD Meat is the cultivated division of food technology start-up Eat Just, Inc. Founded in 2016 by Josh Tetrick, the goal of GOOD Meat is to offer cell-based chicken without actually slaughtering animals. Famous chef José Andrés has partnered with Tetrick and the company to sit on their board of directors. He says this alternative to typically chicken is crucial.
“The future of our planet depends on how we feed ourselves. And we have a responsibility to look beyond the horizon for smarter, sustainable ways to eat,” Andrés explained in a press release.
One lab-grown chicken company, Upside Foods, received FDA approval in November. They, along with GOOD Meat, utilize cells from chickens to make cultivated chicken goods. Though the new chicken offering is meant to reduce animal deaths and greenhouse gasses, not everyone is sold on lab-grown meat. Many people on Twitter had questions regarding the safety of the food.
In addition to grocery stores, once GOOD Meat gets the final approvals, Andrés plans to offer the lab-grown chicken in one of his restaurants for all customers to try.
