The first-ever cultivated-meat fish just got FDA approval. Its CEO talks about how Wildtype got there.

Wildtype, a San Francisco-based lab-grown meat company, has received FDA approval to sell its cultivated sushi-grade salmon saku, making it the fourth company to receive such approval in the US. Wildtype's salmon is not a plant-based alternative, but actual salmon derived from Pacific salmon cells fed with nutrients. The company's founders, Justin Kolbeck and Aryé Elfenbein, have been working on perfecting their cultivated seafood concept for nearly a decade. The cultivation process involves growing salmon cells in large vessels, feeding them with a nutrient mix, and then combining them with plant-based ingredients to lend structure and flavor. The final product has the same amount of omega-3s and omega-6s as regular salmon, without the risk of mercury, microplastics, or parasites. Wildtype's debut comes as lab-grown meat has become a political flashpoint among some conservative lawmakers, who argue it's a threat to existing meat industries. However, Kolbeck believes the market should decide what products are available, not state governments or special interests.