The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced plans to jointly oversee the production of cell-cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry, better known by meat producers as “fake meat.”

The joint regulatory framework would include FDA overseeing cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation. A transition from FDA to USDA oversight will occur during the cell harvest stage. USDA will then oversee the production and labeling of food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. The public comment period will be extended and will remain open through December 26, 2018.

The National Cattlmen’s Beef Association says the announcement is a step in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to do on the issue.

At the recent NAFB Trade Talk, NCBA president-elect Jennifer Houston talked about fake meat and her recent testimony at a joint hearing on the topic. “Where NCBA comes down is that USDA food safety inspection service should have the inspection (for fake meat),” said Houston. “If these new companies are going to be in our space of meat, then they should have the same inspection.”

Listen here: NAFB18 Interview with Jennifer Houston, NCBA

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album