Upside Foods to move forward with plans to launch chicken shreds in the US
USA – Upside Foods is working to introduce its second cultivated meat product, chicken shreds, in the United States by the end of the year.
The California-based company is proceeding with its plans despite legal disputes in Florida and ongoing political debates surrounding alternative proteins.
While its cultivated chicken fillet has regulatory approval and consists of 99% chicken cells, the company halted sales in restaurants last year due to limited supply.
Instead, the fillet has been reserved for special events, marketing efforts, and advocacy initiatives.
Upside Foods is seeking regulatory approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to bring chicken shreds to market.
The company expects to introduce the product to restaurants in 2025, pending necessary authorizations.
Unlike the fillet, which is made using tissue cultivation, the chicken shreds are produced through a suspension process.
Melissa Musiker, Upside Foods’ head of communications, explains that the suspension method results in free-floating cells, requiring the removal of moisture after harvest.
The development of chicken shreds played a key role in the company’s US$400 million Series C funding round in 2022.
The product combines cultivated chicken with plant-based ingredients such as soy protein, wheat gluten, and plant-based oil.
Upside Foods is working to remove wheat gluten from the formulation but has not finalized the inclusion rate of cultivated chicken in the final product.
However, Musiker states that cultivated chicken will be the main component on the ingredient list, differentiating it from other hybrid products on the market.
Recently, the company collaborated with meat distributor Pat LaFrieda to showcase the chicken shreds at a tasting event in New York City.
Dishes prepared included chicken shawarma tacos, breakfast sausage, empanadas, and a fried version.
Musiker says Upside Foods is engaging with various partners to expand awareness and encourage more people to try the product.
While no formal agreement with LaFrieda has been announced, the company anticipates finalizing a deal soon.
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