FDA Approves Lab-Grown Pork Without Long-Term GMO Growth Hormone Studies

Mission Barns has received an FDA approval for its lab-grown pork product, which will be sold at Fiorella restaurants in San Francisco and Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store. The FDA did not test the product, but relied upon the company to present its science, methodology and the FDA has “no questions.”

The FDA approval letter states:

“We have no questions at this time regarding Mission Barns’ conclusion that foods comprised of or containing cultured pork cell material resulting from the production process defined in CCC 000008 are as safe as comparable foods produced by other methods. However, as you are aware, it is Mission Barns’ continuing responsibility to ensure that foods it markets are safe, wholesome, and in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including those administered by FSIS. Should new production procedures, cell lines, or substances employed during production be used that could be relevant to the safety of the food, we strongly recommend that Mission Barns contact FDA.”

The FDA relied entirely upon the scientific evaluation provided by Mission Barns in its approval and has no further questions. The final product has trace amounts of metal, including nickel (0.06 ppm), Vanadium (0.02 ppm), and molybdenum (0.01 ppm). The reported levels by Mission Barns are far below the levels typically found in traditional pork (0.201 ppm nickel, 0.034 ppm vanadium). Nickel is an allergen that affects 10-20% of the population with contact dermatitis. Vanadium has gastrointestinal and renal toxicity at much higher doses.