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Wildtype's Lab-Grown Salmon Receives FDA Greenlight, Makes Historic Restaurant Debut in Portland

UNITED STATES
Friday, June 13, 2025, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

The cultivated seafood product is the first of its kind cleared for public consumption by the FDA, as the nascent industry faces both expansion and legislative backlash across the U.S.

PORTLAND, OR –  Cultivated salmon from San Francisco-based Wildtype has not only received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but has also made its groundbreaking debut on the menu of an acclaimed fine-dining establishment. The FDA's decision marks the first time the agency has signed off on a cultivated seafood product for public consumption, a significant milestone for the emerging industry.

Wildtype confirmed that its pre-market safety assessment was successfully cleared, with the FDA issuing a "no questions" letter affirming that the startup's cultivated fish is deemed "as safe as comparable foods produced by other methods." This approval positions Wildtype as the fourth cultivated meat and seafood producer to receive FDA clearance, signaling an expansion within a nascent industry that has encountered considerable opposition from traditional farming and agricultural interests.

Restaurant Launch and Expansion Plans

Following this regulatory greenlight, Wildtype's cultivated salmon is now officially on the menu at Kann, Chef Gregory Gourdet's James Beard award-winning Haitian restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Weekly service of the cultivated salmon began in late May, with guests able to experience it on Thursday nights in June, expanding to daily availability starting in July.

Chef Gourdet expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting a shared passion for sustainable seafood. "At Kann, we take pride in the ingredients we utilize. Introducing Wildtype's cultivated salmon to our menu hits the elevated and sustainable marks we want our menu to offer guests who share a similar value system to ours,” he stated. The current dish pairs the cultivated salmon with pickled strawberry, spiced tomato, strawberry juice, and an epis rice cracker.

Wildtype plans to expand its cultivated salmon offerings to four additional restaurants within the next four months and is actively seeking more partners to raise consumer awareness.

Industry Challenges Amidst Growth

Despite the FDA approval and restaurant launches, the cultivated meat and seafood industry faces a complex landscape. Earlier this year, Nebraska and Mississippi banned the sale of lab-grown meat, following similar restrictions passed in Florida and Alabama in 2024. Indiana also approved a two-year ban, and several other states are reportedly considering similar measures.

Gregory Gourdet at Kann restaurant

Opponents of cultivated meat argue the industry poses a direct competitive threat to ranchers and traditional agriculture. However, Wildtype and other industry advocates contend that the technology aims to complement traditional agricultural interests, helping to meet the growing global demand for animal protein amidst significant land and water constraints.

According to a report from the Good Food Institute, the U.S. was home to 36 cultivated meat companies in 2024, the most of any country. However, lab-grown meat and fish products are still not sold in U.S. retail stores. The industry as a whole is grappling with challenges related to scaling production amid a difficult fundraising environment. Industry analysts, like GFI, suggest that collaborating with traditional meat companies, such as Cargill and Tyson Foods (who have invested in cultivated meat), or JBS (building a facility in Brazil), could be the most effective path to scaling.

As state-level regulatory efforts intensify, cultivated producers are becoming more vocal. Wildtype, for instance, has actively opposed state restrictions on cultivated meat sales, with its co-founders having testified against the Florida bill in 2024.

"We believe that through technology and innovation, we can address the fundamental challenge of our time: sustaining global health and quality of life without dooming our planet," Wildtype stated following the passage of the Florida bill. "Meaningful behavioral change – convincing enough people to use less energy or eat differently – takes longer than we can afford.”

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