BlueNalu, a global leader in cell-cultivated seafood, today announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with Nomad Foods, Europe’s leading frozen food company, to support the future commercialization of its cell-cultivated seafood products in the UK and across Europe. This news follows BlueNalu’s recent acceptance into the UK Food Standards Agency’s novel foods regulatory sandbox and growing indicators of consumer interest in the region.
New research sponsored by BlueNalu revealed strong enthusiasm among UK sushi consumers for cell-cultivated bluefin tuna toro, its first commercial product. In a survey of 2,000 frequent sushi eaters conducted in 2024, 92% of respondents expressed interest in trying the product. The top perceived benefits included its potential absence of parasites, pesticides, microplastics, mercury, and antibiotics, followed by high omega-3 content. Additionally, 73% of respondents indicated they would likely visit a sushi restaurant offering cell-cultivated toro, and 74% expressed willingness to pay the same or more compared to conventional bluefin tuna due to its potential benefits.
BlueNalu also supported a recent third-party academic study on nomenclature for these products in the UK as part of its commitment to transparency and responsible innovation worldwide. The study concluded that “cell-cultivated” and “cell-cultured” are appropriate consumer labeling terms, meeting essential regulatory and consumer acceptance criteria.
Our cell-cultivated bluefin toro offers a new, high-quality seafood experience—nutrient-rich, free from environmental contaminants, and designed to complement a global supply chain that is increasingly fragile and unpredictable,” said Lou Cooperhouse, founder, president, and CEO of BlueNalu. “We’re proud to work with trusted partners and forward-thinking regulatory agencies to deliver safe, consistent, and desirable seafood to consumers in the coming years. Our acceptance into the UK regulatory sandbox reinforces BlueNalu’s position as a global company at the forefront of food system innovation.”
The UK sandbox program enables selected companies to work collaboratively with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to navigate the regulatory process for novel foods and ensure the highest food safety and transparency standards. BlueNalu is the only U.S.-based company admitted to the FSA sandbox program to date and the only one focused primarily on cell-cultivated seafood.
Nomad Foods and BlueNalu first announced their partnership in 2021 to explore opportunities for bringing cell-cultivated seafood to select markets in the UK and Europe. Following compelling consumer research results, the companies are now focusing on market-entry strategies in the UK, beginning with premium foodservice and limited-time offerings that align with consumer demand for high-quality seafood options.
“As a company that has a long history of successfully introducing innovative and great-tasting fish and seafood products, we are excited to continue working alongside BlueNalu to bring this transformative technology to market, The goals of cell-cultivated seafood to offer alternative yet nutritious, safe, and sustainable products align with our commitment to providing consumers with access to great-tasting seafood that is both good for them and good for the planet.”
– Carly Arnold, Chief RDQ Officer at Nomad Foods.
With regulatory momentum in the UK, strategic collaborations across Europe, and ongoing advancements in the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East, BlueNalu is building a robust international foundation for market entry and commercialization. These efforts are reinforced by extensive global consumer research—nearly 10,000 consumer intercepts across eight countries over the past year, which showed broad demand for BlueNalu’s cell-cultivated seafood.
About BlueNalu
BlueNalu is pioneering the future of seafood by developing premium-quality, cell-cultivated seafood products directly from fish cells. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Diego, California, the company combines innovative biotechnology with culinary expertise to deliver seafood products that align with consumer preferences for health, safety, and sustainability. BlueNalu is dedicated to supporting a more resilient global seafood supply chain and reducing pressure on wild fish populations.