Alternative Proteins

Mississippi Bans Cell-Cultured Milk Products, Sets Label Restrictions for Alternative ‘Meat’ Products

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Effective July 1, HB 1153 bans the sale of milk products produced through cell-culturing and sets forth labeling requirements for products containing cell-based, insect-based, or plant-based protein.

UK FSA Identifies Emerging Food Technologies Shaping Future Food Safety Needs

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:11:10 -0400

The report groups new food production technologies like precision fermentation, controlled environment agriculture, and cell-culturing by their expected impact and feasibility to help regulators and industry target evidence generation, guidance development, and regulatory preparedness efforts.

Senate Bill Would Require Heavy Metals Testing, Disclosures for Protein Powders

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:10:26 -0500

Citing reports of contamination and a lack of federal oversight, California Senator Steve Padilla introduced SB 1033, which would require manufacturers of protein products to test their products for heavy metals and publicly disclose their findings.

UK Releases First Guidance on Food Safety and Hygiene Requirements for Cell-Based Meat Production

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:31:03 -0500

As a result of the ongoing Cell-Cultivated Products sandbox program, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the first of several guidances on the food safety and hygiene of cell-cultured food production; specifically, on HACCP and other applicable requirements under UK regulations for lab-grown meat.

Canada Proposes Foods Derived From Cloned Cows, Pigs Should No Longer be Regulated as ‘Novel’

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:53:32 -0500

Health Canada has determined that foods derived from cloned cattle and swine are safe and should no longer be considered novel foods, and has proposed policy revisions that would regulate these foods in the same manner as their traditional counterparts.

Abu Dhabi to Establish Novel Foods Regulatory Framework

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:59:25 -0400

Regulatory agencies based in Abu Dhabi, UAE have launched a strategic initiative to develop a regulatory framework for novel foods and processes, such as alternative proteins and precision fermentation.

Consumer Reports Voices Concern About Lead in Protein Powder, Urges FDA to Set Enforceable Limits

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:45:40 -0400

Consumer Reports is urging FDA to set enforceable limits on lead in protein powders after an in-house investigation revealed high levels of contamination, raising concerns about daily exposure and regulatory gaps in supplement oversight.

UK Launches Program to Support Novel Food Regulation and Innovation

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:35:27 -0400

The UK Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) Market Authorization Innovation Research Program (IRP) is aimed at helping UK authorities efficiently regulate emerging food production technologies—especially precision fermentation—while supporting businesses and innovation.

FSANZ Announces Changes to Food Standards Code; Provides New Guidance for Seafood, Cell-Cultured Sectors

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:01:10 -0400

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has received official approval for four changes to the Food Standards Code. It has also provided new targeted guidance on microbiological safety and hygiene for seafood and cell-cultured products.

Study Shows Relatively High Levels of Flame Retardants, Plasticizers in Plant-Based ‘Cheeses,’ Soy Products

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:29 -0400

A study led by researchers from the University of Antwerp has found that ultra-processed plant-based foods contain high levels of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in comparison to their animal-based analogs, but a dietary exposure risk assessment did not raise a health concern for the adult population, including vegans.

Australia Approves First Cell-Based Meat Product

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:00:48 -0400

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved its first cell-based food product—quail meat—bringing the product closer to market and establishing a regulatory framework in the national Food Standards Code.

FAO Publishes Report on Food Safety Aspects of Precision Fermentation

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:18:44 -0400

FAO recently published a report on the food safety aspects of precision fermentation, covering nomenclature issues, the production process, and regulatory frameworks.

Mississippi Becomes Third State to Ban Sale of Cell-Based Meat, Following Florida, Alabama

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 10:28:40 -0400

Mississippi has become the third U.S. state to ban cell-based food products with the passage of House Bill 1006. As of July 1, 2025, it will be illegal to sell or distribute any cultivated food product in the state.

South Dakota Passes Law Prohibiting Use of State Funds for Cell-Based Meat Production, Sale

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:49:17 -0400

South Dakota has joined the list of states with legislation targeting cell-based meat, which includes Florida and Alabama, by recently passing a law that prohibits the award or use of state funds for the research, production, promotion, sale, or distribution of cell-cultured protein.

UK FSA Selects Participating Companies and Begins Work on Cell-Cultured Food Sandbox Program

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:35:07 -0400

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has selected eight companies and other partners to take part in its two-year Cell-Cultivated Products sandbox program, which will inform how the agency regulates cell-cultured foods and will result in the full safety assessment of two products.

Researchers Characterize Potential Toxicological, Allergenic Effects of Emerging Protein Sources

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:41 -0500

Researchers from Wageningen University and Research have characterized the toxicological effects and allergenic potential of emerging alternative protein sources in a recent review.

EFSA Concludes Safety of Cricket Species Used for Food

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:33:29 -0500

In a novel food safety assessment, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that a type of house cricket (Acheta domesticus) is safe under the proposed food uses and use levels.

EFSA Explores Processing Effects, Toxicity Testing to Inform Novel Protein Safety Assessments

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Recent research efforts by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to support novel food risk assessments include a study of the effects that processing methods for novel and genetically modified foods can have on proteins, as well as the development of a fit-for-purpose, in vitro toxicity assessment approach for novel proteins.

Ep. 182. Paul Shapiro: Making the Case for Cell-Based Meats and Plant-Based Proteins

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Paul Shapiro, best-selling author and CEO of The Better Meat Co., about the food safety and sustainability advantages offered by various novel alternative protein products, their current regulatory oversight, and hurdles they must overcome before being scaled up and widely accepted by governments and consumers.

UK FSA Seeking Cell-Based Food Companies to Participate in Sandbox Program

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:07:22 -0500

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has opened submissions for companies to express interest in a sandbox program to help ensure the safety of cell-cultivated foods.

Majority of Vegan Meat, Dairy Alternatives of Satisfactory Microbial Quality in England

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:28:41 -0500

A recent study found the majority of vegan meat and dairy alternatives available in England to be of satisfactory microbiological quality. Tofu from one producer had a Listeria problem.

UK FSA to Launch Program Investigating Cell-Based Food Safety

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:26:11 -0400

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been awarded £1.6 million in funding to research cell-cultured food safety and facilitate application support for manufacturers before these products can enter the UK market.

Singapore Makes Edible Insect Sales, Imports Easier; Determines 16 Safe Species

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:21:58 -0400

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved 16 edible insect species for import and sale in the country, and has set out the guidelines for insects to be approved as food.

Stakeholder Collaboration Required to Address Unique Safety Challenges of Novel Foods

Mon, 20 May 2024 14:03:46 -0400

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have published a joint scientific review on novel food sources and production systems, such as edible insects, cell-based foods, plant-based proteins, and other products.

EU Guidance Provides Clarity on Food Hygiene Rules for Cell-Based Meat, Edible Insects

Wed, 15 May 2024 10:30:21 -0400

The European Commission has updated its internal guidance document on the implementation of its regulations on the hygiene of food of animal origin, to clarify how cultivated meat, insects, and other foods for which no detailed requirements are established should be regulated in accordance with the provision’s requirements.

Florida Becomes First State to Ban Cell-Based Meat

Tue, 07 May 2024 15:32:48 -0400

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Senate Bill 1084 into law, becoming the first U.S. state to ban the sale of cell-based meat (also known as “cultivated” or “lab-grown” meat).

Alabama Poised to Ban Cell-Based Meat

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:55:06 -0400

The Alabama House of Representatives recently passed Senate Bill 23 banning the production or sale of cell-based meat products in the state. The bill has been returned to the Senate for concurrence.

West Virginia Passes Truth in Food Labeling Act Restricting Imitation Meat Products

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:06:59 -0400

West Virginia passed a bill known as the Truth in Food Labeling Act, restricting the language that can be used on labels for cell-based meats, plant-based meat alternatives, and other “analogue products,” such as insect-based foods. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

Study Shows How Microplastics Contamination Affects Cell-Based Food During Production

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0500

A recent study has demonstrated the food safety concern of microplastics contamination in cell-based seafood.

France Bans Use of Meat-Related Words on Plant Based Product Labels

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:04:59 -0500

The French government has issued a decree that would ban the use of “meaty” descriptor terms for plant-based meat alternative products produced in the country, with the aim of tackling misleading food labels.