Laboratory nuggets
US fast-food chain KFC wants to create the “world’s first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets,” according to a press release, and no, technically they will not be vegetarian, as they will include real chicken cells.
To create this “meat of the future,” the chain is working with Russian startup 3D Bioprinting Solutions to use “chicken cells and plant material” to print nuggets layer by layer.
KFC claims the approach is more ethical and environmentally friendly as it reduces the need to raise animals.
No harm
According to the company, “the production process does not cause any harm to the animals.”
“3D bioprinting technologies, initially widely recognized in medicine, are currently gaining popularity in the production of foods such as meat,” Yusef Khesuani, co-founder of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, said in the KFC statement.
The fried chicken giant has yet to feed anyone its futuristic nuggets, but the Russian startup is already waiting for the trend to catch up.
“In the future, the rapid development of such technologies will allow us to make 3D printed meat products more accessible and we hope that the technology created as a result of our cooperation with KFC will help accelerate the launch of cell-based meat products. in the market, “the statement said.
Slow food
Scientists who have experimented with similar bioprinting processes have found them to be extremely slow and laborious, The edge reports.
Despite the obstacles, however, KFC wants to go ahead and make its Frankenstein nuggets available for final testing in Moscow later this year.
READ MORE: KFC is working with a Russian 3D bioprinting company to try to make laboratory-produced chicken nuggets[[[[The edge]
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