Steak Californian start-up Upside Foods still has several steps to go before it can market its meat
Soon minced steaks produced in vats? (illustration) — M.LIBERT/20 MINUTES
There are already pure “viandars”, flexitarians, vegetarians, vegans” Soon, another term may have to be invented for those who eat artificially produced meat. Pure sci-fi fantasy? Not at all, since the American start-up Upside Foods, which cultivates animal cells to produce meat without killing animals, received a green light on Wednesday for its manufacturing methods from the agency in charge of security food in the United States (FDA).
“We have launched Upside in a world full of skeptics and today we mark to made history again by becoming the first company to receive this letter from the FDA for cultured meat” in the laboratory, s’ Uma Valeti, the co-founder and managing director, quoted as in a press release of the company Californian.
Away from “ steaks” vegetables
“This is a major step towards a new era in meat production and I'm excited to see you there. the idea that American consumers may soon have the chance to eat delicious meat produced directly from the farm. from animal cells,” he added. In practice, Upside Foods still has many barriers to doing so. pass, including inspections by the United States Department of Agriculture, before being able to sell its products.
The FDA has evaluated “with care” the data and information provided by the company on its methods and has “no further questions to ask. this stage on its findings in terms of safety,” the authority in its own press release. But “this consultation is not an approval process,” said the agency.
Several start-ups aim to produce and market so-called “laboratory”meat” or artificial, to allow humans to consume animal protein with less impact on the environment than that of intensive farming, and without animal suffering. These products differ from substitutes of vegetable origin, such as “steaks” to soy base and other ingredients that mimic the texture and flavor of meat, but contain no animal protein.
The start-up Eat Just, a competitor of Upside Foods, is the first to have received authorization to market artificial meat, Singapore, in 2020. Last May, she passed an agreement with an equipment manufacturer to develop giant tanks where she hopes to produce chicken and beef meat at the same time. large scale.