Cultivated Meat Is Cleared for Sale In The US – Here’s What That Means for Consumers

The USDA has cleared the way for cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown or cultured meat, to be sold in the US. Brands like UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat will soon begin production and selling of chicken products made from animal cells without the need to slaughter animals. This new development allows American consumers to try cultivated chicken at restaurants led by Michelin-starred chefs, offering a more animal and planet-friendly alternative to traditional meat.

Cultivated meat is created using a small number of animal cells grown in bioreactors with added nutrients to replicate the texture and nutritional value of conventional chicken. While not strictly vegan, as it does involve the use of an animal, cultivated meat has been supported by some vegans and praised as a solution to environmental issues caused by animal agriculture. Investments have been made to scale up production of cultivated meat, which could ultimately reduce carbon emissions by replacing traditional meat with protein alternatives.