Lab-grown meat could soon be available in major supermarkets, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
- The FSA has already received applications for lab-grown variants of steak, beef, chicken, and foie gras.
- An additional 15 applications are expected over the next two years.
- Ensuring the safety of lab-grown meat for human consumption remains a top priority for the FSA.
- The FSA’s chief scientific adviser emphasised the need for rigorous safety assessments.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has suggested that lab-grown meat could soon make its debut in major supermarkets, as the demand for these innovative products increases. The agency has already been approached with applications from companies seeking to market lab-grown steak, beef, chicken, and foie gras, with a projection of 15 more applications anticipated within the upcoming two years.
FSA chief scientific adviser, Professor Robin May, has highlighted the safety of lab-grown meat as a critical concern prior to its market introduction. According to May, a fundamental difference exists in how these products are manufactured, as opposed to traditional meat. He stated, “Companies are obviously aiming for products indistinguishable from the animal equivalent, but the way they are achieving that is fundamentally different.”
The production of lab-grown meat involves the use of a complex blend of growth media and growth factors, introducing potential safety challenges. Professor May raised important questions regarding the safety of residual growth components in the final product, and whether genetic changes in the cells might present any hazards. “The most important thing is that the food you buy is food you can trust,” he asserted. “People expect us to go as far as we possibly can in terms of establishing food safety.”
The FSA is committed to a stringent assessment process anticipated to span over two years, during which it will partner with experts from academia and the lab-grown meat industry. This collaborative approach aims to create an efficient and safe approval system.
The precedent for lab-grown products was set earlier this year when a UK pet food brand became the first in Europe to secure approval for its lab-grown meat. This milestone underscores the potential for human-consumable lab-grown meat to gain similar acceptance in the near future.
The introduction of lab-grown meat to supermarkets awaits thorough safety validations, ensuring consumer trust.
