The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has despatched a “no questions” letter to Good Meat, a producer of so-called “cultivated hen,” the company says. That’s an important step alongside the street to client distribution and follows a similar letter to Upside Foods, one other producer of the meat, final November.

Earlier than shoppers can take a chew, although, the U.S. Division of Agriculture might want to log out on the meals as properly. Good Meat says it’s working with the company on “obligatory approvals.”

Cultivated meat is created from cells, somewhat than slaughtered animals, and proponents say it’s a extra sustainable method of consuming and safer, because it’s created in a cleaner atmosphere and fewer liable to contamination from E. coli, salmonella, and different pathogens.

The lab-grown meals is produced in a tank, and the manufacturing space may simply be mistaken for a brewery at first look. Meat will be harvested from the cultivator in 4 to 6 weeks.

One of many meat’s supporters is chef and humanitarian José Andrés, who has vowed to supply Good Meat’s hen to clients at his Washington, D.C. restaurant as soon as it’s authorised.

“The way forward for our planet will depend on how we feed ourselves…and we’ve a accountability to look past the horizon for smarter, sustainable methods to eat,” mentioned Andrés in a press release.

Singapore was the first nation to approve the sale of the meat, poultry and seafood clones simply over two years in the past.

Lab-grown meat gained’t be a less expensive various upon launch. Like plant-based meat alternatives, it is going to initially be offered at a premium, however costs are anticipated to fall as competitors grows and efficiencies to the method are streamlined.