In a first, US regulators approve sale of meat 'grown' in labs
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It will probably take a long time before cell-cultured chicken can be seen in supermarkets.
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A scientist works in a cellular agriculture lab at Eat Just in Alameda, Calif., June 14, 2023 (AP)
The sale of "lab-grown" meat in restaurants and subsequently in supermarkets is now permitted in the United States.
Two California businesses, Upside Foods and Good Meat, received approval from the Agriculture Department on Wednesday to sell chicken manufactured from animal cells. Under the pretext of lessening cruelty to animals and the consequences of grazing, cultivating food for animals, and animal waste on the environment, businesses have been seeking to introduce this method of meat production.
Both firms' lab-grown meat was deemed safe for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration months ago.
In remarks, Upside Foods and Good Meat both applauded the choice. The approval, according to Upside Goods, is a "historic, world-changing moment" that brings its goal closer to reality. Good Meat referred to it as "groundbreaking".
In steel tanks, cells from a living animal, a fertilized egg, or a specific bank of stored cells are used to generate lab-cultivated meat. While Good Meat transforms chicken cells into cutlets, nuggets, shredded meat, and satays, Upside's goods come out in bulk sheets that are shaped into shapes like chicken cutlets and sausages.
Singapore, the first nation to permit the sale of grown meat, is where Good Meat now offers its products.
The meat will first be offered in exclusive restaurants. It is worth noting that Upside has a partnership with Bar Crenn in San Francisco and Good Meet has a partnership with José Andrés' restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Since the goods are far more expensive than meat from farmed birds and can't yet be produced on the same wide scale, it will probably take a long time before they can be seen in supermarkets.
More than 150 businesses worldwide are devoted to developing meat from cells, including chicken, cattle, lamb, and fish.
According to polling, people may be reluctant to sample lab-grown meat at least for the time being.
