UPSIDE Foods

UPSIDE Foods is hosting a free one-night-only pop-up in Miami to offer cultivated chicken before Florida's cultivated meat ban takes effect on July 1, 2024.

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Studies & Numbers

After Tasting Cultivated Meat, Americans of All Political Affiliations Oppose a Ban

Just before Florida’s cultivated meat ban came into force last year, UPSIDE Foods hosted a cultivated chicken tasting in the state, titled the Freedom of Food Pop-Up. Researchers at Tufts University took the opportunity to study the event, and have now published a paper revealing insights into cultivated meat acceptance among Americans. One of the most significant is that the vast majority of attendees opposed the banning of cultivated meat after tasting the product. This held true regardless of political affiliation; those identifying as Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, or something else all said the government should not interfere in small business innovations working toward societal betterment. “Banning cultivated meat sets a really terrible precedent in this country… Completely based on scare tactics and political nonsense,” …

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UPSIDE Foods indy 500

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Cultivated Meat

Upside Foods Serves Cultivated Chicken at Indy 500 Ahead of Indiana’s Cultivated Meat Ban

Cultivated meat company UPSIDE Foods, based in Berkeley, California, served cultivated chicken sandwiches during the Indianapolis 500 event on Sunday. This demonstration occurred shortly before Indiana’s statewide ban on the sale of cultivated meat takes effect on July 1, 2025. Indiana’s legislation prohibits the sale of cultivated meat products, including those produced by UPSIDE Foods. The company used the Indy 500 event to respond to the upcoming ban, stating on social media: “UPSIDE is here to defend your right to choose delicious chicken grown without the kill. So we served cultivated chicken sandwiches at the hashtag Indy500 to make a point: banning safe, USDA-approved food is anti-free market and frankly, un-American. Legal fight against state bans UPSIDE Foods is actively engaged in legal challenges against …

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A cultivated chicken sandwich

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Politics & Law

UPSIDE Foods Wins First-Round Victory in Court After Challenging Florida Cultivated Meat Ban

After filing a lawsuit against Florida’s cultivated meat ban in August of last year, UPSIDE Foods has been granted an important first-round victory by Chief Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The ruling denies an attempt by the government to dismiss the legal challenge, meaning the case will progress in the trial court. UPSIDE’s lawsuit alleges that Florida’s cultivated meat ban violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution because it was enacted to shield in-state conventional meat producers from out-of-state cultivated meat producers. Furthermore, UPSIDE claims the ban is preempted under federal laws that regulate the interstate market for meat and poultry products. UPSIDE is represented by the nonprofit law firm the Institute for Justice (IJ). …

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UPSIDE Foods

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Company News

UPSIDE Foods Restructures Operations Amid Ongoing Workforce Reductions

UPSIDE Foods, a cultivated meat company based in Berkeley, California, has confirmed recent workforce reductions, citing a strategic restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency. The layoffs come as part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations and focus on the commercialization and scaling of its products. A company spokesperson told both AgFunderNews and Alt-Meat: “We’ve reorganized our team and operations to stay agile and efficient to meet any challenges ahead,” but they did not disclose specific numbers or details about the restructuring. This marks the third round of workforce reductions in the last year, following similar cuts in February and July 2024. The decision reflects ongoing financial pressures within the company and the broader cultivated meat industry, which continues to grapple with the difficult task …

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Upside Foods, Florida You've Been Served

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Company News

Institute for Justice and UPSIDE Foods File Lawsuit Against State of Florida

In partnership with the cultivated chicken company UPSIDE Foods, the Institute for Justice (IJ) has filed a lawsuit against the Florida law banning cultivated meat. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill prohibiting the production, distribution, and sale of cultivated meat in the Sunshine State on May 1, 2024, and it went into effect on July 1. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida, argues that the ban on cultivated meat violates Constitutional provisions against protectionist measures “designed to favor in-state businesses at the expense of out-of-state competitors,” IJ stated. Here you can view a video created by IJ discussing the firm’s National Food Freedom initiative. The video features attorney Paul Sherman and Upside CEO Uma Valeti speaking on …

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UPSIDE Foods is hosting a free one-night-only pop-up in Miami to offer cultivated chicken before Florida's cultivated meat ban takes effect on July 1, 2024.

© UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods Hosts Free Cultivated Chicken Tasting Before Florida’s Ban

UPSIDE Foods, the first company to introduce a cultivated meat product in the USA,  announces that it is hosting a free, one-night-only pop-up tasting in Miami, on June 27, starting at 6:30 pm (ET). The event aims to celebrate “freedom of food” and allow Floridians to taste cultivated meat before the ban prohibiting the production and sale of cultivated meat in Florida takes effect on July 1, 2024. At the pop-up, participants will have the opportunity to taste UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken on a first-come, first-served basis. The address has not been disclosed; to obtain it, contact [email protected]. Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of UPSIDE Foods, commented, “We believe that cultivated meat is an essential part of the future of food and that people should have …

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GOOD Meat - Image courtesy of GFI
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Cultivated Meat: Approvals and Prohibitions Since Singapore’s Pioneering Step in 2020

Since Singapore became the first country to approve cultivated meat in 2020, a favorable regulatory environment has been growing in some nations while others have opted to ban the technology. Currently, worldwide, 174 companies are developing cultivated meat from cells, rather than farming animals or fishing. This milestone signifies a major achievement for an emerging industry that has had to build practically everything from the bottom up. Today’s summary highlights the world’s cultivated meat approvals and the latest submissions from companies eager to offer consumers new cultivated products. Singapore Cultivated chicken Singapore pioneered the approval of cultivated meat with GOOD Meat‘s chicken in 2020. Since then, the product, a mix of 70% meat made from chicken cells and plant ingredients, has been cooked by chefs and served in fine …

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Cell scaffolding at NUS

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

A Deep Dive into the Role of 3D Scaffolds as the Building Blocks for Cultivated Meat

In addition to scaling and cost hurdles, cultivated meat production faces the unique challenge of developing final products that meet the consumer’s expectations of conventional animal-based meat, including larger pieces akin to whole cuts. However, most prototypes are made from ground meat and do not look exactly like whole cuts. Why is this the case? 3D scaffolds Companies in the space are experimenting with 3D structures or scaffolds to recreate the structure and taste of animal tissue to make complex products such as steaks, filets, and even burgers. In animals, the extracellular matrix (ECM), a structure made of proteins and carbohydrates, supports the cells and guides them in their growth journey: differentiation and tissue development to make the different organs and body parts. Scaffolds for …

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School cafeteria meal

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Politics & Law

US Senators Propose Ban on Cell-Cultivated Meat in School Meals

US Senators Mike Rounds and Jon Tester have introduced the “School Lunch Integrity Act of 2024.” This bill seeks to amend nutritional requirements established by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to ban cell-cultivated meat from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).  Since the first cell-cultivated protein product debuted in 2013, the industry has seen rapid growth and investment, with companies like Upside Foods and GOOD Meat emerging as key players in the United States, culminating in FDA and USDA approval last year. The development of these so-called “fake meat” products is aimed at supporting future food security by reducing livestock dependency. However, this growth has sparked controversy, particularly among …

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The Florida state flag waving along with the national flag of the United States of America. In the background there is a clear sky.

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Politics & Law

Florida House Republican Introduces Bill to Ban Cultivated Meat in the State

Florida House Representative Tyler Sirois is making headlines after introducing a new bill prohibiting the production, selling, holding, and distributing of cultivated meat in Florida. The news comes only a few weeks after TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023 included GOOD Meat’s cultivated chicken. As reported by Action News Jax, the proposed legislation states that anyone found in violation could face criminal penalties, including a misdemeanor of the second degree, accompanied by a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000. Restaurants or food service companies violating the law would see a license suspension or an immediate stop-sale order. If signed into law, this bill would come into effect in July 2024 and could have significant implications for the emerging cellular agriculture industry.  Florida legislation reportedly mandates that any …

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Company News

UPSIDE Foods Announces its First Commerical Cultivated Meat Plant in Illinois

UPSIDE Foods, has officially chosen Glenview, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, as the location for its first large-scale commercial production facility.  This 187,000-square-foot plant, named “Rubicon,” will serve as a hub for the production of cultivated chicken products, marking UPSIDE’s first commercial-scale production. Moreover, the company has ambitious plans to diversify its product offerings by expanding into other meat varieties and whole-textured formats in the future. The company states it selected the name Rubicon with an appreciation for its historical significance as a point of no return, reflecting its commitment to redefine the future of food. Several factors drove the decision to establish its facility in this area. Firstly, Glenview’s strategic location offers significant logistical advantages, with major transportation crossroads facilitating efficient production, distribution, and …

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UPSIDE Foods

Amy Chen © UPSIDE Foods
Interviews

UPSIDE Foods: “We’ve Proven Cultivated Meat is Safe, Delicious, and Something Consumers Want”

Last November, UPSIDE Foods made history when it became one of the first two cultivated meat companies to have a product greenlit by the FDA. Since then, the company has reached several more milestones, with its cultivated chicken receiving USDA label approval this June and gaining final regulatory approval to be sold in the US a week later. UPSIDE’s first sale — believed to be the first ever for cultivated meat in the US — took place on July 1 at Chef Dominique Crenn’s acclaimed Bar Crenn restaurant. The initial event was for winners of a social media contest, but the cultivated chicken is now available to the public as part of a six-course meal at the restaurant. Most recently, UPSIDE announced that it had …

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UPSIDE Foods

Amy Chen © UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: “We’ve Proven Cultivated Meat is Safe, Delicious, and Something Consumers Want”

Last November, UPSIDE Foods made history when it became one of the first two cultivated meat companies to have a product greenlit by the FDA. Since then, the company has reached several more milestones, with its cultivated chicken receiving USDA label approval this June and gaining final regulatory approval to be sold in the US a week later. UPSIDE’s first sale — believed to be the first ever for cultivated meat in the US — took place on July 1 at Chef Dominique Crenn’s acclaimed Bar Crenn restaurant. The initial event was for winners of a social media contest, but the cultivated chicken is now available to the public as part of a six-course meal at the restaurant. Most recently, UPSIDE announced that it had …

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upside foods chicken on plate

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People

UPSIDE Foods Bolsters Executive Team, Hires Former Twitter Executive as Chief Legal Officer

UPSIDE Foods (previously known as Memphis Meats), one of the two cultivated meat producers granted permission to sell their novel cell-cultivated chicken to consumers in the USA, today announces that Dr. Kevin Kayser, UPSIDE’s Senior Vice President of Research & Development (R&D), has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer, and Sean Edgett, former General Counsel at Twitter, is appointed as Chief Legal Officer. Dr. Kayser previously led UPSIDE’s R&D efforts for almost five years. In the new role, he will be responsible for driving UPSIDE’s scientific strategy, overseeing all R&D efforts, and collaborating with academic and industry partners to advance the mission and economics of cultivated meat. His notable achievements include developing high-performance cell lines and cell feeds, including advancements in serum-free cell feed formulations, …

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Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn

Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn ©UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: Reservations Now Open to Purchase Cultivated Meat in US For First Time

UPSIDE Foods announces the first reservations to try its historic cultivated chicken are now open to the public. On August 4, Bar Crenn in San Francisco will begin serving UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal, marking the first time members of the public can sign up to purchase cultivated meat in the US.  The announcement comes just weeks after UPSIDE completed the first consumer sale of its cultivated chicken, also at Bar Crenn, to several winners selected from a social media contest. UPSIDE’s first official public seating will take place on August 4 at 5:00 pm PT, when Chef Dominique Crenn will serve the startup’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal priced at $150.  During the dinner service, the chicken …

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Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn

Guest trying cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn ©UPSIDE Foods
Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: Reservations Now Open to Purchase Cultivated Meat in US For First Time

UPSIDE Foods announces the first reservations to try its historic cultivated chicken are now open to the public. On August 4, Bar Crenn in San Francisco will begin serving UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal, marking the first time members of the public can sign up to purchase cultivated meat in the US.  The announcement comes just weeks after UPSIDE completed the first consumer sale of its cultivated chicken, also at Bar Crenn, to several winners selected from a social media contest. UPSIDE’s first official public seating will take place on August 4 at 5:00 pm PT, when Chef Dominique Crenn will serve the startup’s cultivated chicken as part of a six-course meal priced at $150.  During the dinner service, the chicken …

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Crenn Cultivated Chicken Dish at Bar Crenn

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Cultivated Meat

UPSIDE Foods: First-Ever Sale of Cultivated Meat in US Takes Place Today

UPSIDE Foods announces its whole-cut, cell-cultivated chicken is launching at Chef Dominique Crenn’s acclaimed Bar Crenn restaurant on July 1st – in what UPSIDE believes is the first-ever consumer sale of cultivated meat in the US. The first customers will be several winners selected from a social media contest held by UPSIDE. The event follows a historic month for UPSIDE, which recently gained regulatory approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell its cell-cultivated chicken to chefs, restaurants, and consumers. UPSIDE’s chicken is also the first meat product Chef Crenn will offer on her menu since 2018 – when the Crenn Dining Group stopped serving conventional meat out of concern for its environmental impact.  The July 1st event will feature UPSIDE’s cultivated chicken fried …

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UPSIDE Foods receives regulatory approval to produce and sell its cultivated chicken in the US

Image courtesy of UPSIDE Foods
Company News

UPSIDE Foods Gains Final Approval to Sell Cultivated Chicken to US Consumers

UPSIDE Foods announces it has secured the regulatory approval to produce and sell its cultivated chicken in the US. Concurrently, Eat Just’s GOOD Meat division has also passed its final stage of approval today (another article to follow shortly) after both companies today received the Grant of Inspection (GOI) from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) marking the last step in the pre-market regulatory process. Receiving the GOI confirms that UPSIDE Foods’ Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC) meets federal operating requirements for meat & poultry facilities. Market debut UPSIDE announced that its market debut will be a whole-textured chicken product, 99% chicken cells, served at Bar Crenn in San Francisco, a restaurant owned by the three Michelin-star chef Dominique Crenn (a woman will prepare the …

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Cultivated meat made with serum-free cell growth media

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Company News

Setting the Record Straight: Eat Just is First Cultivated Meat Company to Receive USDA Label Approval

In a turn of events, and further to our article published some hours ago, UPSIDE Foods is in fact the second cultivated meat company in the US to receive label approval from USDA, not the first, as the company claimed in its widely distributed press release today. Following the publication of the UPSIDE news on ours and other platforms, Eat Just contacts vegconomist to set the record straight: “GOOD Meat (Eat Just’s cultivated arm) received approval of our label on June 8,” says the California food tech, adding that the company was not planning to make an announcement until after it had received its Grant of Inspection, representing the final step in the regulatory approval process. What came first, the chicken or the … chicken? …

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UPSIDE Foods receives USDA label approval for its cultivated chicken

Image courtesy of UPSIDE Foods
Company News

UPDATED: UPSIDE Foods Receives First-Ever USDA Label Approval for Cultivated Meat

Update: We have been contacted by Eat Just which states its cultivated meat subsidiary GOOD Meat was in fact the first to receive USDA label approval, on June 8th (UPSIDE received approval June 12th) though was not intending to publicise the move until its GoI. We will report further on the situation. UPSIDE Foods announces it has become the first company in the world to receive USDA label approval for cultivated meat, specifically for its cultivated chicken The USDA, which regulates label approvals for meat, poultry, and egg products, officially approved the term “cell-cultivated chicken” for Upside Foods’ novel product on Monday, the 12th of June. UPSIDE Foods’ chicken, a cultivated meat product grown directly from animal cells, is subject to the exact labeling requirements …

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