One of the most controversial topics in the meat and poultry industry is the role that lab-grown meat and poultry products will play in the industry. Livestock producer groups understandably share the concern the commercial availability of these products will reduce demand for their products. But some meat packers and food companies view lab-grown meats as an innovation that will complement their protein offerings.
One of the major areas of contention associated with the technology is how these products will be regulated. Whether these products will be regulated solely by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) or whether they will fall under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) purview under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) could have a major impact on how and when these products are brought to market.