NEW TECH FOODS

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have launched a new business support service to help companies developing cell-cultivated food products navigate the authorisation process.

These products, often called “lab-grown meat,” include items like chicken fillets and beef burgers made from animal cells. The sector is expanding, and regulators have begun receiving applications, with more expected in the near future.

The support service offers direct access to FSA and FSS staff before an application is submitted. Companies will receive guidance on key requirements such as data collection, hazard identification and food safety standards. Post-submission, businesses can access further help to address any gaps identified during the review process.

Thomas Vincent, deputy director of Sandbox and Innovation at the FSA, said: “The FSA’s role is to make sure all foods are safe before they are sold in UK. As cell-cultivated products are now being developed in new and innovative ways, it’s vital they continue to meet our high safety standards. This new service will help businesses understand what is needed to prove their products are safe, and guide them through the authorisation process."

"By making it easier for companies to get things right from the start, we can support growth in the cell-cultivated product sector while giving consumers a wider choice of safe food.”

The FSA and FSS will also use the process to gather evidence on emerging technologies to improve future evaluations. Plans are in place to expand the service to producers of precision-fermented foods, such as those using microorganisms to make dairy proteins or rennet.