Opportunities and Challenges for the Introduction of New Food Proteins

New forms of protein are being developed at a rapid rate as older forms of protein, particularly meat and poultry, are coming under attack for nutritional, environmental, food safety, and animal welfare issues. To date, the FDA and USDA have split oversight of the new technologies that include genetic engineering and precision fermentation. Because these new products address the problems associated with traditional proteins, consumer demand appears to be overcoming fundamental fears associated with innovative foods. Currently, agencies are struggling with naming issues for the new proteins and, in some cases, possibly being forced to use costly and lengthy premarket approvals. Because of the complexity of new production methods, the speed of development, and the potential benefits, a new system of regulation may be necessary. It would consist of one of the existing agencies becoming a super regulator overseeing private companies that specialize and compete with each other and are regulated quickly and competently.