For the first time, U.S. regulators have approved for the sale of lab-grown chicken meat made from animal cells.1 This breakthrough allows two California companies, Upside Foods, and Good Meat, to offer “lab-grown” meat to restaurants and, eventually, grocery store shelves. This development ushers in a new era of meat production aimed at reducing both harms to animals and environmental impacts linked with traditional animal farming.
Approval and Impact
The U.S. Agriculture Department has given the green light to Upside Foods and Good Meat, making them the first to sell meat that is made from cells rather than obtained through animal slaughter. This up-and-coming field, often referred to as “cell-cultivated” or “cultured” meat, has the potential to totally change the industry by eliminating the need for large-scale grazing, animal feed production, and the waste it causes. The regulatory approvals follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s assessment that the products from both companies are safe to eat.
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Cultured Chicken Meat: How it’s Made
Lab-grown chicken meat is cultivated in steel tanks using cells sourced from living animals, fertilized eggs, or stored cell banks.2 The cells are combined with a nutrient-rich broth that contains essential elements for growth. Over a period of days or weeks, the cells multiply and grow into bone muscle, fat, and connective tissues. Upside Foods produces large sheets of cultured chicken meat, which are later shaped into familiar cuts like cutlets and sausages. Good Meat, already successful in Singapore, offers a range of products such as cutlets, nuggets, shredded meat, and satays.
Availability and Challenges
Although the approval allows these companies to sell lab-grown chicken, it may take some time before the products become widely available in U.S. grocery stores. Cultivation is currently more expensive than traditional farming, and scaling up production remains a challenge. According to Ricardo San Martin, director of the Alt: Meat Lab at the University of California Berkeley, cultivated chicken cannot yet be produced on the same scale as conventionally farmed poultry. Therefore, the companies plan to introduce their products initially in certain restaurants, such as Bar Crenn in San Francisco and a Washington, D.C. establishment owned by chef Jose Andrés.
The Future of Lab-Grown Chicken Meat
While consumer skepticism and the “ick factor” may hinder initial adoption, their acceptance tends to increase once people understand the production process and taste the lab-grown meat. Upside Foods’ chief operating officer, Amy Chen, emphasizes that cultivated meat is no substitute for plant-based alternatives like the Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat, as it is real meat produced in a different way. Globally, over 150 companies are focused on developing cell-cultivated meats, ranging from chicken to pork, lamb, fish, and beef. However, the high cost and limited production capacity of lab-grown chicken meat currently poses challenges. Upside Foods aims to increase its annual production to 400,000 pounds, while Good Meat has not provided a specific production goal.
U.S. regulators’ approval of lab-grown chicken meat marks a significant step in the quest for alternative meat production methods. With Upside Foods and Good Meat at the forefront, these companies are set to revolutionize the industry by offering meat that is grown from animal cells. While challenges regarding cost and scalability persist, the potential to reduce environmental impact and remove harm to animals has garnered significant interest. As consumer acceptance grows and production methods evolve, lab-grown meat has the potential to become a staple on grocery store shelves within the next decade.
Keep Reading: California Factory Producing 50,000 Lbs Of Lab-Grown Meat Per Year
Sources
- “US approves chicken made from cultivated cells, the nation’s first ‘lab-grown’ meat.” AP News. Laura Ungar and Jonel Aleccia. June 22, 2023.
- “Meat grown from animal cells? Here’s what it is and how it’s made.” AP News. Laura Ungar and Jonel Aleccia. June 2023.