Cultivated Foie Gras Company Submits Novel Food Application In Five Markets

French startup Gourmey has submitted novel food applications for five key markets in order to sell its cultivated foie gras product. In a "world-first," the company has sought approval for market access in Singapore, the US, the UK, the EU, and Switzerland. Gourmey is the first company to seek novel food approval in Europe for its cultivated foie gras, which is made by extracting cells from a duck egg.

Cultivated meat, like Gourmey's foie gras, is seen as a more sustainable alternative to traditional meat production. By using animal cells in a bioreactor, cultivated meat can be grown without the need for animal deaths and with a minimal environmental footprint. The company's CEO, Nicolas Morin-Forest, believes that diversifying protein production is crucial for addressing food security and contributing to sustainability objectives like decarbonization and biodiversity.