US FDA Says Yes to First University-made Sausage from Gene-edited Pigs

Washington State University (WSU) made history in the United States (US) by becoming the first university to release meat derived from gene-edited livestock pigs into the market. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the meat, in the form of German-style sausages, is safe for human consumption.

WSU's pigs were gene-edited to become surrogate sires. Using CRISPR technology, the gene NANOS2 was knocked out to make the male pigs sterile. Another male pig's stem cells that can create sperm with desired traits are then implanted into the surrogate sires, which can be passed on to the next generation. The process is part of an advanced selective breeding program to produce livestock with better meat quality and increased resilience to stress and diseases.

The FDA authorization is investigational and limited to the pigs developed by WSU. While the gene-edited pig was not specifically developed for desirable meat traits, its pork is still safe to eat. WSU used the pork to make sausages for catering and the sales will help raise travel funds for students.

The approval demonstrated that academic institutions are capable of achieving food safety approvals from the FDA, and that universities and federal regulators can work together to bring better options into the food supply.

Read the news release from WSU for more details.