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Image courtesy of Eat alone
Chicken nugget from the American startup “Eat Just”
Singapore announced on the 2nd that it approved the sale of “clean meat” (meat other than slaughtered animals) made from animal cells by artificial culture for the first time in the world.
This paved the way for San Francisco-based Eat Just to sell farmed chicken.
Clean Meat will be used for nuggets first, but the company hasn’t said when it will be available.
Concerns about consumer health, animal welfare and the environment have led to a sharp increase in demand for common meat substitutes.
According to Barclays Bank of the UK, the alternative meat market is expected to grow to $ 140 billion in the next 10 years. That’s roughly 10% of the global meat industry ($ 1.4 trillion).
Plant-based meat produced by “Beyond Meat” and “Impossible Foods” in California, USA, is becoming more common on supermarket and restaurant menus.
But Eat Just products are different. This is because it is not of plant origin, but is made by growing animal muscle cells in the laboratory.
Breakthrough for the food industry
Eat Just said that the approval of the sale of cultured meat was “a breakthrough for the global food industry” and expected other countries to follow suit.
Over the past decade, dozens of startups have sought to bring cultured meat to market in the hope that, by promising to offer more ethical products, they will appeal to traditional meat eaters.
The largest of these companies are Future Meet Technologies and Israel-based Memphis Meet, backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Both companies are trying to enter the market by developing delicious cultured meats at an affordable price.
Singapore’s “Shoke Meets” is working on the production of cultured meat from seafood such as shrimp.
While many emphasize the environmental benefits, some scientists suggest that circumstances may adversely affect climate change.
Safe “new food”
According to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), a working group of experts examined data on Eat Just’s production controls and safety testing of farmed chicken.
“Surveys have found that it is safe to consume cultured meat at the intended use level. It has been allowed to be sold in Singapore as a raw material for Eat Just’s nugget products,” SFA said. Was.
The SFA explained that it has a “novel foods” regulatory window to ensure that cultured meat and other alternative protein products meet safety standards before being sold in Singapore.
“We are confident that we will be the first to approve the (sale) of cultured meat by regulators in Singapore and around the world,” Eat Just co-founder Josh Tetric said in a press release.
The company explained that cultured meat does not use antibiotics and has fewer microorganisms than traditional chicken.
“For the first time in the world, regulators have recognized that genuine, high-quality meat made directly from animal cells can be safely consumed by humans. This is for future small-scale commercial development in Singapore. It will pave the way. path “
Future issues: Mariko Oi, BBC News (Singapore)
The Eat Just leader said it was “one of the most important milestones in the food industry,” but challenges remain.
First, producing meat in the laboratory is much more expensive than plant-based meat.
The sale price shows it clearly. Eat Just had previously said that a lab-made chicken nugget would sell for $ 50 each.
After that, the cost will go down, but it will be as expensive as high-end chicken.
Another challenge is consumer reaction.
However, Singapore’s approval of Eat Just’s products will increase the likelihood that competitors will move to Singapore and encourage approval from other countries.
