BERKELEY, CALIF. — On June 14, cultivated meat company Upside Foods announced that it received label approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The company said it demonstrated full compliance with all pre-market requirements for labeling and can begin commercial production as soon as it obtains a Grant of Inspection (GOI) for its Engineering, Production and Innovation Center (EPIC) in California. 

“The USDA’s approval of our label marks a major step forward towards our goal of creating a more humane and sustainable food system,” said Uma Valeti, MD, chief executive officer and founder of Upside Foods. “Obtaining the USDA’s GOI will clear the way for commercial production and sales and allow us to bring our delicious UPSIDE chicken to consumers for the first time.”

In November 2022, the company received approval in the form of a “No Questions” letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Upside Foods launched under the name Memphis Meats in 2015. 

The company raised $400 million in a Series C funding round during spring 2022, bringing its valuation to more than $1 billion. It’s raised $608 million in total funding from investors, including Cargill, Tyson Foods and Givaudan.

Upside opened its 53,000-square-foot campus in November 2021 that was designed to produce meat, poultry and seafood cultivated products.  

GOOD Meat, the cultivated meat division of Eat Just Inc., confirmed that it also received USDA label approval on June 8 and already received a “no questions” letter from the US Food and Drug Administration on its product in March 2023.