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

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 …

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UPSIDE Foods indy 500

© UPSIDE Foods

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 …

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A cultivated chicken sandwich

© UPSIDE Foods

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 …

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UPSIDE Foods

© UPSIDE Foods

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,” …

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Upside Foods, Florida You've Been Served

© Upside Foods

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, …

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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

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 …

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GOOD Meat - Image courtesy of GFI

Approvals

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 …

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Cell scaffolding at NUS

Cultivated pork © National University of Singapore

Ingredients

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 …

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School cafeteria meal

© Africa Studio - stock.adobe.com

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 …

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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.

© rarrarorro - stock.adobe.com

Meat

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 …

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