Umami Bioworks gets EU nod for cultivated fish in pet food

EUROPE – Singapore-based food tech company Umami Bioworks has secured regulatory approval in the European Union to sell two cultivated seafood ingredients for pet food, marking a major milestone for the emerging alternative protein sector. 

The company is targeting a commercial rollout in the EU by the second quarter of 2026.

The approval makes Umami Bioworks the third startup cleared to introduce cultivated pet food in Europe, signaling accelerating momentum for the sector. 

The two registered ingredients involve cultivated white fish, one in biomass form and another suspended in a nutrient broth. Both are classified under Category 10 of the EU Feed Materials Register, which covers fish, aquatic animals, and their derivatives.

“This marks an important regulatory milestone for us and establishes a clear pathway to market,” said Gayathri Mani, product manager at Umami Bioworks. “We’re already working with partners… We are targeting Q2 2026 for initial launches in the EU.”

Partnerships and market strategy

The company has also renewed its collaboration with California-based Friends & Family Pet Food Company, which secured its own cultivated pet food approval in Singapore earlier this year. Together, the two firms plan to launch their initial products in Singapore, the UK, and the EU.

“We have signed an MoU with Friends & Family Pet Food Company to bring cultivated seafood-based pet food to market,” Mani confirmed.

Umami Bioworks’ cultured white fish is developed from a non-GMO cell line and grown in a controlled, antibiotic- and animal-free environment. Both ingredients are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, designed to meet the nutritional needs of pets.

The EU’s regulatory framework requires companies selling animal-derived ingredients for pet food to register as users of animal byproducts and meet strict safety standards. 

Unlike human food, however, cultivated pet food ingredients do not need pre-market approval, meaning Umami Bioworks could fast-track its entry.

Expanding a growing sector

Founded in Singapore, Umami Bioworks merged with fellow cultivated seafood producer Shiok Meats in 2024 and has since expanded its research pipeline to include Japanese eel, bluefin tuna, and white fish for human consumption. 

Its eel program is the most advanced, with pilot-scale production underway and regulatory filings in multiple markets.

“Our human food dossier is in the final stage of approval in Singapore. Applications to the EU, UK, Australia, and the US are planned for submission by the end of September 2025,” Mani said. 

The company has raised approximately $7.5 million (US$5.84 million) to date and is preparing for another funding round to accelerate commercialization.

This latest registration comes amid a wave of regulatory progress for cultivated proteins. Austrian-American firm BioCraft Pet Nutrition registered cultivated mouse meat for pet food in the EU earlier this year, while Czech startup Bene Meat Technologies pioneered EU registration in 2023. 

Meanwhile, UK-based Meatly gained approval last year, leading to the first cultivated pet food hitting retail shelves in Britain this spring.

On the human food side, several companies have also secured approvals in 2025, including Vow in Australia and New Zealand for cultured quail and Believer Meats in the US for cultivated chicken.

With nearly 90 million European households owning pets and the region’s pet food market growing at more than 5% annually, Umami Bioworks believes demand for innovation is high. “The appetite for cultivated alternatives has never been stronger,” the company said.

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