In Washington, D. C., the use of animal cell culture technology as a method of food production and manufacturing raises many important considerations from a technical and regulatory perspective. In order to help foster dialogue regarding these emerging food technologies, and the considerations they raise, the FDA announced a public meeting to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this new space.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA has jurisdiction over food, which includes articles used for food and articles used for components of any such article. As a starting point, both substances used in the manufacture of these products of animal cell culture technology and the products themselves that will be used for food are subject to the FDA’s jurisdiction.
The FDA expects that most or all starter cells for food applications will come from living animals for the foreseeable future for commercial and marketing reasons