Cult Food Science’s subsidiary, Further Foods, is poised to submit its protocol for feeding trials to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this month, as it seeks regulatory approval for its cultivated chicken dog treats under the Noochies! brand.
Further Foods, a branch of the Canadian cellular agriculture platform Cult Food Science, is preparing to secure U.S. regulatory clearance for its innovative pet food. The company is finalizing its trial design and anticipates submitting it to the FDA within the month.
Pending FDA approval, Further Foods plans to commence the trials in the fourth quarter of this year. The company hopes to launch its initial range of products early next year, according to Cult Food Science CEO Mitchell Scott.
Understanding Novel Pet Food Feeding Trials
In the U.S., novel pet foods, including new ingredients like cultivated chicken, fall under the same regulatory framework as feed ingredients. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine oversees this area, in collaboration with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a non-profit organization that sets ingredient standards.
To ensure that new ingredients are nutritionally adequate and safe for animals, AAFCO guidelines mandate feeding trials. Further Foods, in partnership with veterinarian Dr. Sarah Dodd, is designing a Target Animal Safety (TAS) study to validate the safety and efficacy of including cultivated chicken in Noochies! products.
Once the design is submitted, the FDA will review it within 45 days. Scott stated, “Following FDA feedback on our trial design, we will proceed with the feeding trials.”
The TAS study aims to demonstrate that cultivated chicken is a safe and effective protein source for dog food. According to AAFCO guidelines, the trial must involve at least eight dogs aged one or older and last 26 weeks. Further Foods’ study will include 30 healthy, adult dogs of various breeds and ages, divided into control, test, and high-dosage groups. The trial will monitor feed intake, haematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, weight, fecal analysis, and digestibility.
If the trials meet criteria such as no signs of nutritional deficiency or toxicity and no more than 10% average weight loss, the food will be classified as “complete and balanced.”
Scott noted that additional work may be required post-approval, some of which can be conducted concurrently with the feeding trials.
Pricing and Market Impact of Noochies! Cultivated Dog Treats
Cult Food Science claims Further Foods is the sole company currently consulting with the FDA on feeding trials for cultivated chicken dog treats.
Scott expressed enthusiasm about the potential industry impact: “A successful trial could transform the pet food landscape. Navigating these regulatory pathways has been challenging, but we aim to be a trailblazer in this area.”
Dr. Dodd, a founding member of Friends & Family Pet Food Co., is also developing white fish for cats with Umami Bioworks. Scott addressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest, stating, “Dr. Dodd is involved with numerous pet-related companies.”
Noochies!, founded by former Cult Food Science VP Joshua Errett in 2019, produces vegan pet snacks using Cult Food Science’s patented Bmmune ingredient—a blend of nutritional yeast and fermented fungi. In May, Cult Food Science raised CAD$800,000 ($584,000) to expand the Noochies! product line.
Scott confirmed that the cultivated treats will include the same proprietary blend found in existing vegan products. Further Foods is adopting an omnichannel strategy to build and scale the brand effectively. Scott assured that production constraints are not an issue for the current line and expects the new products to be profitable and competitively priced from the outset.
The announcement from Cult Food Science comes amidst a significant week for the cultivated pet food sector. On Wednesday, London-based Meatly received UK regulatory approval for cultivated meat, marking a milestone for cultivated pet food in Europe and globally. Meatly plans to begin selling cultivated chicken for dogs by the end of the year.
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