HOUSTON — In the summer of 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved lab-grown meat.
Two companies were given the OK to distribute their "cultivated meat" to restaurants and stores, including Upside Foods and Good Meat.
Several TikTok videos are using the approval of lab-grown meat in the U.S. to claim the nation's largest chicken chain, Chick-fil-A, will be using lab-grown meat. The KHOU 11 Verify Team was contacted by a viewer, Mandi, who was curious to know if the TikTok claims are true.
THE QUESTION
TikTok videos are being shared that state Chick-fil-A will soon be using lab-grown chicken meat in their food. Is this true?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
A spokesperson from the Chick-fil-A corporate office tells the KHOU 11 Verify Team via email that videos on TikTok claiming the use of lab-grown meat are false.
WHAT WE FOUND
In a move to keep up with demand, Chick-fil-A stepped away from its No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) policy and is switching to a new standard: No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM). NAIHAM means drugs that are commonly used to treat illness in humans will not be used to treat sick animals.
Chick-fil-A says the changes take effect in Spring 2024. The same day the company announced their switch to NAIHAM, videos started getting posted on TikTok claiming the company would use lab-grown meat. A spokesperson from Chick-fil-A's corporate office said via email the online claims are false.
The KHOU 11 Verify Team also checked with the two companies approved by the USDA in the U.S. to distribute lab-cultivated meat. Both companies, Good Meat and Upside Foods say their products are not available at any restaurants or grocery stores. Upside Foods also tells KHOU 11 News that also includes fast food settings.