USDA Food Safety Must Adapt To 21st Century

"As technology advances, we hear about the possibility of food products being created not from a traditional raising of livestock or raising of poultry and slaughtering them, but actually being able to take cells from animals and grow up products in a laboratory or bio-reactor in a facility that can essentially grow cells up to be actual tissue that is then sold to consumers," said USDA's Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety Carmen Rottenberg.

"And I think that's a technology that is advancing quite quickly in this country and other countries, and there will obviously be some pretty significant considerations of the US Government will have to make."

The top concern is how safe is this product and what risks are associated with it.

"And then, just ensuring that the products are properly labeled so consumers really know what it is that they're purchasing."