BY ISN Magazine
In a landmark decision for the future of food, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its first-ever approval for a pre-market safety consultation regarding lab-grown fish. This historic move grants San Francisco-based food tech company Wildtype the green light to begin offering its cell-cultivated salmon to the public — making it only the fourth company to receive such a nod from the regulator for cultivated animal products.
The FDA’s approval, delivered in the form of a “no questions” letter, confirmed that Wildtype’s cultivated salmon is “as safe as comparable foods” already available on the market. This milestone marks the culmination of a rigorous scientific review and positions Wildtype as a key player in the rapidly evolving alternative protein space.
For the moment, consumers can find Wildtype’s cultivated salmon on the menu at a Portland restaurant, a debut that signals the cautious but steady entry of lab-grown seafood into the American dining landscape.
A Regulatory First for Fish
Unlike cultivated meat, which is jointly overseen by the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), lab-grown seafood falls solely under the FDA’s purview. This regulatory clarity may offer a faster path to market for companies innovating in the seafood space — and Wildtype appears to be leading the charge.
Founded in 2016, Wildtype has been developing its cultivated salmon with sustainability, traceability, and food safety at its core. The firm produces the fish from real salmon cells grown in stainless steel tanks — without the need to catch or farm live animals, thereby eliminating exposure to ocean pollutants and microplastics.
A New Wave of Protein Innovation
Wildtype joins a small but growing list of trailblazers — including UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat — in receiving the FDA’s blessing for lab-grown animal products. The technology behind cultivated meat and seafood is still in its early commercial stages, but experts predict rapid growth as consumer demand for sustainable, ethical protein sources increases.
The FDA’s decision comes at a time when global seafood stocks are under pressure from overfishing, climate change, and pollution. Cultivated seafood offers a promising solution that could reduce dependence on marine ecosystems while maintaining flavour, texture, and nutritional value.
Looking Ahead
While Wildtype’s cultivated salmon is initially limited to a single Portland restaurant, the company has stated it plans to expand availability in the coming months. Widespread adoption will depend on scalability, cost reduction, and public acceptance — but this regulatory milestone brings us one step closer to a future where lab-grown seafood is a regular part of our diets.
As regulators, food innovators, and chefs align on the promise of cultivated foods, Wildtype’s success may well be a harbinger of a new era in global seafood production — one that balances culinary excellence with environmental responsibility.