First cell-cultured food approved by FSANZ Board

On 7 April, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Board provided its approval for the first cell-cultured food in Australia and NZ. The approval process now moves on to food ministers, who have 60 days to consider the FSANZ decision.

The FSANZ approval follows extensive scientific assessment and two rounds of public consultation on Application A1269 – Cultured Quail as a novel food.

The approval will allow the sale of cell-cultured quail and establish new standards in the Food Standards Code to provide a clear regulatory framework for future cell-cultured food applications.

Under the approval, cell-cultured foods will be labelled as ‘cell-cultured’ or ‘cell-cultivated’.

If food ministers do not request a review of the decision with the time period allowed, cell-cultured foods will move closer to Australian and NZ plates.

To find out more about the approval process, visit here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Marco de Benedictis