The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the sale of cell-cultured chicken for two companies.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the sale of cell-cultured chicken for two companies.  Upside Foods and Good Meat, a subsidiary of Eat Just, received the approval to sell lab-grown protein. Cultured meat is made by putting stem cells from the fat or muscle of an animal into a culture medium that will feed them and allow them to grow. The medium is then put into a bioreactor that supports the growth and churns out a product that looks and tastes like traditional meat. The two startups received the approval, and besides the U.S., only Singapore has cleared the sale of cell-cultured meat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its approval months ago, saying each company's lab-grown chicken is safe for human consumption. Chef Jose Andres has placed the first order to sell Good Meat's cultured chicken and serve it at an undisclosed restaurant in Washington, D.C.