US biotechnology company Wildtype has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell cultured salmon grown in laboratory conditions from fish cells. This decision was a historic event: for the first time, the FDA recognized the caged version of seafood as safe for consumption, officially confirming that it is comparable to traditional salmon in terms of quality and safety.
To date, Wildtype products are only available on the menu of one restaurant, the Haitian institution Kann, located in Portland, Oregon. One of the dishes combines fish with pickled strawberries, spicy tomatoes, strawberry juice and rice crackers.
However, the company has already announced an expansion program, with a waiting list now open for five more restaurants looking to put the innovative salmon on their menus.
Cultured meat and fish
Cultured (artificial) products, also known as "test tube meat" or "lab meat", are produced by growing animal cells in a sterile bioreactor environment without the need to slaughter the animals.
This process produces high quality meat and fish products with minimal environmental impact, reduced risk of contamination, and without antibiotics and hormones.
Wildtype grows products from live Pacific salmon cells in conditions similar to those of wild fish, then the cells are blended with plant-based ingredients to mimic the flavor, texture and appearance of a regular salmon fillet.
To produce artificial salmon, Wildtype uses cell samples that are then placed in a nutrient-rich environment that stimulates them to grow and turn into muscle tissue similar to that found in natural salmon.
FDA Approval
Last week, Wildtype announced that it had completed the FDA's voluntary safety evaluation consultation process. The agency sent the company a so-called "No Questions Letter" stating that "there is no objection to the assertion that cultured salmon is safe for consumption and comparable in quality to conventional counterparts." This letter is not a direct marketing authorization, but is considered the final step in the approval process and gives the green light for the product to enter the market.
The FDA regulates the production and distribution of seafood, including fish, while the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for farmed meats (beef, chicken and pork). This delineation of authority is important to understand why it was the FDA that granted approval in the case of Wildtype.
According to biotechnology lawyer Dr. Emily Nytko-Lutz, such consultation with the FDA is "not mandatory, but 'highly desirable' for companies to expedite commercialization of products." Alternative paths include self-certifying safety or going through a longer and more complex approval process for dietary supplements.
Photo: mustafinmag.kz
With the FDA letter, Wildtype has become the fourth company to gain official approval to sell cellular animal products in the US. Upside Foods and Good Meat, both offering cultured chicken, and Mission Barns, which has received FDA approval for its cellular pork lard but is awaiting final approval from the USDA.
Political and societal barriers
Despite scientific progress,
artificial meat remains a subject of political and ideological debate in the United States. As of 2025, eight states have passed legislative measures banning the sale or production of raised meat, citing concerns about labeling, cultural practices, and potential threats to local farmers. These bans are largely promoted by conservative politicians who view cultured meat as a symbol of an imposed "green" agenda.
Nevertheless, technology companies continue to invest in this sector. The global market for farmed meat and fish is expected to reach billion-dollar turnover in the next 10 years, especially amidst the increasing challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and the need to reduce the carbon footprint of the food industry.
The future lies in farmed seafood
Wildtype positions their salmon as an environmentally friendly and ethical alternative to wild and farmed fisheries. Company representatives claim that their products do not contain microplastics, parasites or other contaminants often found in ocean fish. In addition, cage culture requires significantly less water and resources than traditional methods.
As production expands and production costs fall, such products may take an increasingly prominent place in the diet of the future. FDA approval is an important step towards the normalization and mass adoption of artificial products, and Wildtype salmon may be just the beginning of a new food revolution.