Believer Meats secures USDA approval to launch cultivated chicken from world’s largest production facility

Believer Meats has received official approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its cultivated chicken label and large-scale production facility in North Carolina – a landmark that clears the way for commercial sales and international exports.

According to the company, the milestone makes Believer Meats the first and only large-scale cultivated meat producer to achieve USDA approval, following its earlier safety clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Together, these approvals complete the company’s regulatory pathway to market in the USA.

“I’m thrilled to share that Believer Meats has officially received the USDA green light for our product label and factory in North Carolina,” said Gustavo Burger, CEO of Believer Meats. “This major milestone authorizes us to begin commercial production and sales of our cultivated chicken products in the USA and export to international markets.”

Burger called the approval “a testament to the dedication, innovation, and integrity of our entire team”, adding that the achievement brings the company closer to its goal of making cultivated meat available to consumers worldwide. “With both FDA and USDA regulatory milestones behind us, we are one step closer to bringing cultivated meat to consumers around the world and to advancing our vision to lead food innovations that care for the planet,” he said.

The USDA’s approval covers both Believer’s product label and its 200,000ft2 facility in Wilson County, North Carolina – the world’s largest cultivated meat production site. Completed earlier this year, the plant will serve as the company’s manufacturing hub, innovation center, and demonstration space. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to produce up to 12,000 metric tons (approximately 26 million pounds) of cultivated chicken annually.

The company, founded in Israel in 2018 and formerly known as Future Meat Technologies, uses a proprietary cell-cultivation process to grow chicken directly from animal cells without raising or slaughtering livestock. Its technology, developed by founder and Chief Science Officer Professor Yaakov Nahmias, relies on centrifuge-based perfusion and a closed-loop media rejuvenation system that improves efficiency, reduces waste, and minimizes costs.

Believer Meats received its FDA 'No Questions' letter in July 2025, confirming the agency’s acceptance of its safety assessment for cultivated chicken. That clearance paved the way for the USDA inspection and label approval now achieved. Together, the twin authorizations mark the final steps before commercial rollout.

The North Carolina facility, which was designed from the ground up for scalability, represents a significant leap for the cultivated meat sector. It demonstrates that production can move beyond pilot-scale operations toward commercial manufacturing volumes. Believer Meats said the site will also support product development, consumer engagement, and regulatory collaboration as the company expands globally.

“We couldn’t be prouder of what this milestone represents – not just for Believer Meats, but for the future of food,” Burger said.

Believer Meats joins a small group of companies worldwide to have cleared both FDA and USDA requirements for cultivated meat. In the US, cultivated poultry products are jointly regulated by the FDA and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The FDA oversees cell collection and growth processes, while the USDA supervises harvest, processing, and labeling.

The approval marks a major moment for the global cultivated protein industry, which has faced challenges in funding and regulation but continues to make scientific and technological progress. Believer Meats said it remains focused on scaling production and bringing its first consumer products to market as it helps build “a more secure global food system.”

“Here’s to the next chapter of food innovation,” Burger said.