Further Foods, a Cult Food Science subsidiary, has completed and submitted the feeding trial design protocol for dog food products containing cell-cultivated chicken to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The trial was first announced in July when Further Foods said it expected to complete its design later that month.

The protocol for its feeding trial is aimed at scientifically validating the use of cultivated chicken in dog food products to the FDA. The company anticipates starting these feeding trials in Q4 2024, pending FDA approval.

Further Foods is working with vet nutritionist Sarah Dodd on ‘all aspects’ of the feeding trial in order to ensure it abides to the highest standards of safety and nutritional efficacy. The trial is a crucial step towards Further Foods’ Noochies! brand bringing cell-based meat pet food products to pet owners in North America, ensuring it is safe and effective.

The trial is anticipated to be a 26-week, minimally invasive study involving 30 healthy, adult dogs of various breeds and ages. The trial will monitor feed intake data, haematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, weight, faecal analysis and digestibility factors to ensure the inclusion of cell-cultivated meat is safe for the animals.

Further Foods said that “as far as it is aware, it is the only company currently in dialogue with the FDA about feeding trials for a cultivated chicken dog treat”. This follows last month’s news that British start-up Meatly received the ‘world’s first’ regulatory clearance to sell a pet food product made from cultivated meat, after its pet food was cleared for sale under the UK's animal by-products regulations.

Mitchell Scott, CEO of Cult Food Science, said: “Completing and submitting the feeding trial design to the FDA is a critical step towards bringing cultivated meat to the pet food market. A successful trial could significantly change the landscape of pet food, offering nutritional, environmental and ethical benefits for pet owners. We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation and look forward to advancing this trial in collaboration with Sarah Dodd and the FDA.”

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