Mission Barns Secures USDA Approval for Cultivated Fat

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Mission Barns has received the green light from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its cultivated pork fat ingredient, a milestone that enables its first products to enter the U.S. market. The approval includes a grant of USDA inspection for its San Francisco pilot facility and a label sign-off for its cultivated fat ingredient, following FDA approval earlier this year.

Mission Barns offers a cultivated pork fat ingredient designed to empower food companies to overcome flavor, health and texture challenges. The company’s portfolio of fat solutions aims to provide consumer packaged goods (CPG) food companies and manufacturers with the ability to replicate the richness and depth associated with conventional meat products, said Mission Barns.

To demonstrate the applications and commercial viability of its cultivated fat, Mission Barns said it is executing limited launches. These include targeted product releases with key retail and foodservice partners like Sprouts Farmers Market and Bay Area restaurant Fiorella.

“This approval validates our core technology and opens the door to deeper collaborations,” said Cecilia Chang, chief business officer of Mission Barns. “Our mission has always been to solve the biggest barrier to alternative proteins — taste. Cultivated fat is the key. We’re here to give food companies and manufacturers the missing ingredient that helps their products stand out: Mission Fat.”

At Fiorella, Chef Brandon Gillis has created seasonal Italian dishes featuring Mission Barns’ cultivated fat, including meatballs and bacon.

Behind these activations is Mission Barns’ proprietary bioreactor technology, a system built to scale cultivated fat with commercial efficiency. The technology allows Mission Barns to serve a network of ingredient and co-development partners across foodservice and CPG sectors, the company said.

With regulatory approvals now secured, Mission Barns is accelerating B2B engagement across the U.S. and internationally. The company is building its partner pipeline.

“There's a clear and growing interest in cultivated fat, not just in the U.S., but globally,” said Chang. “We’re currently in talks with potential partners in our pipeline who have expressed a strong need for our Mission Fat, and we're strategically positioned to scale our operations and meet that anticipated demand. We're excited to expand our reach and bring our innovative products to consumers worldwide.”

Mission Barns’ cultivated pork is created by growing real animal cells, eliminating the need for traditional livestock production, said the company. This approach aims to offer a more sustainable, scalable alternative to conventional meat, addressing climate change, food security and animal welfare concerns, said Mission Barns.\

Where to Find Mission Barns Products

Mission Barns Cultivated Italian-Style Meatballs will soon be available at select Sprouts Farmers Market locations in the San Francisco Bay area.

Fiorella Sunset (1240 9th Ave, San Francisco) will feature Mission Barns meatballs and bacon as part of a limited dining series.