Believer Meats Ceases Operations Despite Achieving FDA and USDA Regulatory Approvals for Cultivated Chicken
核心洞察
Believer Meats (搜索), one of the few cultivated meat companies to secure both FDA "No Questions" letter and USDA approvals for commercial sales in the US, has shut down operations in 2025.
The company, originally founded in 2018 as Future Meat Technologies (搜索), had been positioned as a frontrunner in the cultivated meat sector before its unexpected closure.
The shutdown was announced by the company's global VP of talent and human resources via LinkedIn, though specific reasons for the cessation were not disclosed.
Believer Meats (搜索), one of the few cultivated meat companies to successfully navigate both FDA and USDA regulatory pathways for commercial sales in the United States, has ceased operations despite achieving significant regulatory milestones in 2025. The shutdown represents a notable setback for the cultivated meat industry, particularly given the company's advanced regulatory position.
Regulatory Achievements and Market Position
The company had secured a Food and Drug Administration (搜索) "No Questions" letter for its cultivated chicken product in 2025, indicating the agency had no further questions about its safety assessment. Following this milestone, Believer Meats (搜索) received US Department of Agriculture (搜索) approvals for labelling and facility oversight, positioning it to begin commercial sales in the US market.
Founded in 2018 as Future Meat Technologies (搜索) before rebranding to Believer Meats (搜索), the company had been recognized as a frontrunner in the cultivated meat sector. The regulatory approvals represented a significant achievement, as few companies in the space have successfully cleared both required regulatory steps for US market entry.
Company Closure and Leadership Response
The shutdown was disclosed through a LinkedIn post by Anne Schubert (搜索), the company's global VP of talent and human resources. While Schubert did not provide specific details regarding the reasons for the cessation of operations, she acknowledged that the outcome was "not what any of us hoped for."
In her announcement, Schubert expressed pride in the team's accomplishments during her tenure. "We built a world-class team from the ground up – talented, mission-driven people with diverse skills spanning engineering, biotechnology, manufacturing, food science, quality and more," she wrote. She noted that the team had tackled "novel and complex challenges with creativity, grit and heart."
Workforce Transition
Schubert confirmed that many employees are now seeking new roles following the company's closure. She encouraged other companies to consider former Believer Meats (搜索) staff, describing them as "capable, collaborative, and resilient – the kind of people who raise the bar wherever they go."
The closure of Believer Meats (搜索), despite its regulatory achievements, highlights the ongoing challenges facing the cultivated meat industry as companies work to establish commercially viable operations in an emerging market sector.