Five startups form alliance to provide clear path to market for cell-based meat
The USDA and FDA issued a guidance document in May this year providing further clarity on the regulation of cell-cultured meat stating. In its issued agreement, the FDA would oversee cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation, with a transition from FDA to USDA’s FSIS (food safety and inspection service) oversight to occur during the cell harvest stage. FSIS will then oversee the production and labeling of foods derived from these cells.
Cell-based meat start-ups including JUST Inc. and Memphis Meats welcomed the news noting that joint oversight will help provide consumers with transparency and confidence that cell-cultured meat is safe.
While the guidance provides more clarity on who will be for responsible for what when it comes to regulating cell-cultured met, the agencies have not issues any further guidance on how cell-cultured meat will be described on food labels.
Goal of AMPS Innovation
"Members of AMPS Innovation understand that cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood is one solution that will help fulfill the increased demand for meat as the global population grows to 10 billion people by 2050," said the coalition.
All five member companies, and other companies in the cell-cultured meat space are currently in the research and development phase but expect to make products available in the next several years, through appropriate regulatory pathways, the coalition stated.
The member companies noted that they "recognize that, as with all foods, consumers will want clear and transparent information about these products as they become available. AMPS Innovation aims to provide a central, unified resource for consumers, stakeholders and policymakers as their industry advances.
In the coming months, AMPS Innovation intends to engage policymakers and stakeholders to educate them on their products in addition to working with Congress, the USDA and FDA as they continue to build out a regulatory framework for meat, poultry, and seafood that is grown directly from animal cells, rather than harvested from the animals themselves.
"AMPS Innovation aims to create an environment for the industry that will support continued innovation for years to come," the alliance stated.
In a joint statement, Lou Cooperhouse, co-founder and CEO of BluNalu; Michael Selden, co-founder and CEO of Finless Foods; Niya Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Fork and Goode; Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of JUST; and Dr. Uma Valeti, co-founder and CEO of Memphis Meats, said:
"Over the past few years, each member company has made significant strides in the development of our products, and we are excited at the prospect that they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals. We are committed to an open and science-based dialogue with all stakeholders, including industry partners, policymakers, advocates and consumers.
As we look ahead to the imminent challenges of feeding a growing population, AMPS Innovation is dedicated to working together, in partnership with the broader agricultural community, to advance solutions to address these needs.”
