Cultured meat developer Upside Foods hosted a tasting event for its cultured chicken in Miami last week, just before cultured meat was banned in Florida on July 1st.
The “Food Freedom” pop-up event, held on the rooftop of The Annex, “celebrated and advocated for food freedom and innovation that helps build a better future,” according to a statement from the California company. It was also the first time that cultured meat was available for free tasting to the public.
The farmed chicken was prepared and served by Miami chef, restaurateur, and television personality Mika Leon, who served the upside-down chicken on a tostada, cooked “a la plancha con sazon,” with avocado, chipotle crema, beet sprouts, and fresh lime zest.
The event brought together a diverse group of Florida residents, families, professionals, culinary enthusiasts and curious consumers. Over 100 guests tasted cultured meat and discussed the technology and the future of food.
Like most cultured meat taste tests to date (from all suppliers), portions were small and did not include whole meat; companies in this category are still ramping up to that level. See our feature article on the subject here.
“We believe cultured meat is essential to the future of food and that people should have the right to choose what they eat,” said Dr. Uma Valeti, CEO and founder of Upside Foods. “The goal of this event was to give Floridians a taste of cultured meat. Unfortunately, the state prevents people from enjoying and benefiting from cultured meat, both in terms of innovation and the economy. Despite Florida’s ban, events like this highlight the growing interest in cultured meat and its important role in shaping a more sustainable food future.”
While dozens of startups are working on the technology, only two chicken producers, Upside Foods and Eat Just/Good Meat, have been approved by the USDA and FDA to manufacture and sell their products. The approvals were granted in June 2023, but neither company is currently selling their products. Both companies are likely years away from being able to produce products in sufficient quantities to sell them in even limited quantities at a reasonable price.
Nevertheless, the Florida legislature passed a bill making cultured meat illegal, and Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed the bill into law on May 1, said cultured meat is part of a global conspiracy.
“Having had the opportunity to work with Upside’s farmed chicken, I can confidently say that their products are delicious,” says Chef Leon. “From the look to the smell to the taste, their products offer the same experience you would expect from chicken. As a chef, I love the idea of finding ways to use innovation to create a better food future while preserving the foods we love.”
