Upside Foods Good Meat First Sales US-what Actually Happened
- 01. What happened, in one line
- 02. Timeline of the first U.S. cultivated-meat sales
- 03. Key facts and figures
- 04. Why these dates matter
- 05. How the first sales were organized
- 06. Reported quotes and claims
- 07. Regulatory and labeling specifics
- 08. Estimated market and scale context
- 09. Common questions (FAQ)
- 10. Short analysis of impact
- 11. Data snapshot (illustrative numbers)
- 12. Primary sources and where to read more
Short answer: Upside Foods conducted the United States' first confirmed consumer sale of cultivated chicken on July 1, 2023 at Bar Crenn in San Francisco, while Good Meat (Eat Just's GOOD Meat) secured USDA inspection and planned a parallel first-restaurant rollout to José Andrés' restaurants - both companies received USDA grants of inspection on June 21, 2023 that legally allowed limited commercial sales in the U.S. market.
What happened, in one line
The USDA issued grants of inspection to UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat on June 21, 2023, enabling those companies to begin limited commercial sales of cultivated chicken at select restaurants, and UPSIDE executed the first documented consumer sale on July 1, 2023 at Bar Crenn.
Timeline of the first U.S. cultivated-meat sales
- March-June 2023: FDA and USDA approvals and label clearances for "cell-cultured chicken" were completed for the leading companies.
- June 21, 2023: USDA granted formal grants of inspection to UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat, unlocking commercial production and limited sales in the United States.
- Early July 1, 2023: UPSIDE announced and carried out a restaurant debut and the first consumer sale at Bar Crenn in San Francisco.
- Following weeks/months: GOOD Meat announced plans to ship initial products to restaurants in the José Andrés group while both firms stated intentions to scale to grocery retail later.
Key facts and figures
The following concise data points give a snapshot of capacity, dates, and public statements tied to the first sales and regulatory milestones.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| USDA grant of inspection | June 21, 2023 - granted to UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat, enabling commercial sale under USDA jurisdiction. |
| First consumer sale | July 1, 2023 - UPSIDE Foods served cultivated chicken at Bar Crenn (San Francisco) in a documented event. |
| GOOD Meat restaurant partner | José Andrés group - GOOD Meat signaled initial shipments to the chef's restaurants as its first U.S. appearances. |
| Pilot capacity (UPSIDE) | Emeryville pilot ~50,000 lbs/year reported; planned scale-up to tens of millions of pounds in future facilities. |
| Public statements | UPSIDE and GOOD Meat called the approvals a "watershed" moment and emphasized initial upscale-restaurant rollouts. |
Why these dates matter
The June 21, 2023 USDA actions marked the final regulatory step allowing cultivated-meat products to be inspected, labeled, sold, and tracked under U.S. food-safety systems - a legal gate that had previously kept such products out of U.S. commerce.
UPSIDE's July 1, 2023 restaurant debut converted regulatory clearance into the first documented consumer transaction, turning policy into a real-world sale and visible market signal.
How the first sales were organized
Both companies used a staged, controlled rollout strategy: limited restaurant launches with selected high-profile chef partners first, followed by production scale-up before wider grocery distribution.
- Target channels: upscale restaurants (initial), then specialty retailers, then broader supermarkets.
- Quality control: USDA inspection and labeling placed cultivated chicken under existing product-safety regimes.
- Communication: companies emphasized cell origin (99%+ animal cells) and chef partnerships for consumer acceptance.
Reported quotes and claims
UPSIDE's CEO framed the event as a historic milestone and called the launch the industry's "first consumer sale" in the U.S., underscoring the symbolic and regulatory import of the restaurant debut.
GOOD Meat and Eat Just executives highlighted their prior commercial experience (noting earlier sales in Singapore) and said they would start with restaurant partners like the José Andrés group while finalizing production timelines.
Regulatory and labeling specifics
The USDA's grant of inspection makes cultivated meat subject to the same inspection framework the department applies to conventional poultry products, including traceability and labeling rules allowing the use of terms such as "cell-cultured chicken."
Estimated market and scale context
Industry reporting at the time put UPSIDE's cumulative fundraising at roughly $600 million+ since 2015 and cited an Emeryville pilot capacity ~50,000 lbs/year with plans for much larger facilities measured in tens of millions of pounds per year.
Analysts commonly projected that the early restaurant launches would represent less than 0.1% of U.S. chicken consumption in the near term, with meaningful retail penetration depending on capital investment, cost reductions, and regulatory harmonization.
Common questions (FAQ)
Short analysis of impact
UPSIDE's July 1, 2023 sale converted a regulatory milestone into a visible market event and served to validate the USDA process for cultivated proteins; restaurant-first launches create controlled consumer exposure while companies work on scale and unit economics.
GOOD Meat's parallel regulatory clearance and chef partnerships provided immediate demand outlets and publicity, helping both firms to gather consumer data necessary for larger rollouts.
Data snapshot (illustrative numbers)
| Metric | Illustrative value |
|---|---|
| Initial consumer servings | ~dozens served at debut events (symbolic first sales). |
| Emeryville pilot output (UPSIDE) | ~50,000 lbs/year reported pilot capacity. |
| Planned scale facility | "Tens of millions" lbs/year targeted for future US plant expansions. |
| Fundraising to date (UPSIDE) | ~$608 million raised (company reporting). |
Primary sources and where to read more
Contemporaneous news coverage and company releases from June-July 2023 document the USDA grants and restaurant debuts; Reuters, FoodNavigator-USA, AgFunder, and company press releases provide the primary reporting on dates, partners, and regulatory specifics.
Notable line: Companies called the approvals a "watershed moment" for cultivated meat's commercial pathway in the U.S., emphasizing chef partnerships and staged rollouts rather than immediate mass retail.
Expert answers to Upside Foods Good Meat First Sales Us What Actually Happened queries
Is this the first time cultivated meat was sold anywhere?
No. Companies including Eat Just previously sold cultivated chicken in Singapore starting in 2020, but June-July 2023 marked the first documented regulatory-backed consumer sales in the United States.
How many servings were sold in the first event?
The public announcements cite a limited guest list and contest winners at UPSIDE's Bar Crenn debut rather than mass retail volumes; the first sale was symbolic and intentionally small compared to future target production volumes.
What exactly did UPSIDE Foods sell first?
UPSIDE sold a whole-textured cultivated chicken product grown from animal cells, served to invited diners at Bar Crenn in San Francisco on July 1, 2023 as the first documented consumer sale in the U.S. following USDA inspection approval.
Did GOOD Meat also sell to U.S. consumers at the same time?
GOOD Meat received its USDA grant of inspection on June 21, 2023 and arranged initial shipments to partner restaurants (notably José Andrés' group), but initial rollouts were staggered and focused on restaurant service rather than mass retail.
Were the products labeled as "lab-grown meat"?'
Regulatory and company communications used the terms "cell-cultured" or "cell-cultivated chicken"; USDA approvals enabled company-approved labeling under inspection requirements.
Are these products widely available in grocery stores now?
No-both companies signaled plans to scale to retail after restaurant launches, but initial availability was limited to select restaurants while larger production capacity and price reductions are developed.