“The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorised the San Francisco pilot plant and product label for Mission Barns’ cultivated pork fat, three months after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ‘no questions’ letter for the novel ingredient.

It means the startup has now completed the full regulatory pathway approval for cultivated meat in the US, enabling the launch of its first products into the market.

‘The FDA oversees the safety of the cell culture process, while the USDA inspects and approves the production facility and labelling for meat products. Together, they confirm that our cultivated pork ingredient is safe, truthfully labelled, and legally cleared to be sold as food,’ Cecilia Chang, chief business officer of Mission Barns, tells Green Queen.

‘It’s a critical milestone that allows us to launch commercially in the US – and one that sets the foundation for regulatory confidence in other countries as well.’

The company’s cultivated fat is mixed with plant-based ingredients to form Italian-style meatballs and applewood-smoked bacon, which will debut at Bay Area restaurant Fiorella Sunset and Sprouts Farmers Market this quarter.”

From Green Queen.