Cultivated meat (i.e., cell-cultured meat) has been promoted as an alternative to the livestock industry as a more sustainable, safer, and healthier means of food production. However, several regulatory and safety hurdles must be addressed for cultivated meat to reach the commercial market, as it has not yet been declared safe for consumption in the U.S. Safety considerations for cell-cultured meat include the components utilized (the raw ingredients, the source of cells, scaffolds, and bioreactors), the introduction of adventitious agents, and the presence of drug/chemical residues in the final food product. 

The first global report on the food safety aspects of cell-based foods has been published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The report is intended to provide a solid scientific basis to begin establishing regulatory frameworks and effective systems to ensure the safety of cell-based foods.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its second premarket consultation for a food made from cultured animal cells intended for human consumption. FDA evaluated the information submitted by GOOD Meat Inc. and has no further questions at this time about the company’s safety conclusion. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its first premarket consultation for cultured meat (also known as “cell-based” or “lab-grown” meat), in response to a submission from company UPSIDE Foods, and has raised no questions about the products’ food safety. FDA expects cell-based meat products to be ready for the U.S. market in the near future.

On November 1–4, 2022, a group of 24 experts from 15 countries gathered in the Republic of Singapore for the first global consolation on the safety of cell-based foods (also known as “cultured” or “lab-grown” foods). The meeting was convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify the food safety hazards associated with cell-based foods.