Believer Meats Secures FDA Safety Approval and Expands Production
Believer Meats, a pioneer in cultivated meat, has become the fifth startup to receive the FDA’s prestigious ‘no questions’ letter, confirming the safety of its innovative products. The company has also completed its large-scale production facility in North Carolina, marking a significant milestone in the realm of alternative proteins.
With operations spanning Israel, Chicago, North Carolina, and Dubai, Believer Meats is currently gearing up for its next steps in the U.S. market. While the official statement from the company is still awaited, further details are soon expected to be published on the FDA’s website.
CEO Gustavo Burger’s Insight on Recent Developments
In a recent LinkedIn post, CEO Gustavo Burger expressed excitement about crossing this pivotal hurdle. “We’ve received the FDA’s ‘no questions’ letter confirming the agency’s acceptance of our safety conclusion. We’ve completed construction of our North Carolina facility, the first and only large-scale cultivated meat production site in the world,” he stated. Notably, this claim was contested by Australian startup Vow, which reported having production capabilities of 40,000 liters.
“This is more than just progress; it’s a defining moment,” Burger emphasized, as he elaborated on the company’s commitment to food innovation that prioritizes environmental sustainability. The firm is poised to transition cultivated meat from experimental phases to market-ready products, contributing to a more resilient food ecosystem.
Navigating Regulatory Challenges
Before entering the U.S. market, Believer Meats must secure a grant of inspection from the USDA alongside label approval. The company also indicated through a LinkedIn update that the commissioning of the factory is currently underway.
Innovative Non-GMO Technology
Originally founded as Future Meat Technologies, Believer Meats is recognized as one of the top-funded entities in the cultivated meat sector, having raised an impressive $347 million in its Series B funding round in 2021. This capital will assist in commercializing its proprietary Non-GMO technology.
Developed by founder Prof. Yaakov Nahmias, this technology enables the company to achieve higher-density cell cultures and improve media efficiency compared to competitors. A recent peer-reviewed study revealed that the media costs could potentially drop to $0.63 per liter, facilitating the high-density culture of chicken cells.
The analysis suggested that the production cost for cultivated chicken might fall to approximately $6.20 per pound, making it competitive with organic chicken through the use of advanced perfusion technology.
The Science Behind Their Products
Believer Meats utilizes spontaneously immortalized, Non-GMO chicken fibroblast cells, which undergo trans-differentiation into adipocyte-like (fat) cells that can then be blended with plant proteins to create chicken products. This innovative approach positions them uniquely in the cultivated meat landscape.
The Growing Landscape of Cultivated Meat
Believer Meats joins the ranks of other notable cultivated meat startups that have received FDA green lights in the U.S., such as Good Meat (Eat Just), UPSIDE Foods, Mission Barns, and Wildtype.
Stay tuned for further updates!
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