Which agency oversees cell collection, cell banking, and cell culture for cell cultured meats?

• A. FDA
• B. USDA
• C. CDC
• D. EPA

Answer: (A)

Cell collection, cell banking, and cell culture are activities that involve growing and maintaining living cells used to make the final product. The agency that regulates how these biological materials are sourced, stored, and cultured to ensure safety in foods is the FDA. They oversee the cell lines, culture methods, growth media, and facility controls involved in creating cultured meat. In contrast, USDA’s role is connected to traditional meat production and the safety and labeling of the finished meat product; in the framework for cultured meat, FDA handles the cellular development while USDA oversees the final product as a meat product. So, for the upstream cellular steps, FDA is the appropriate regulator.