Last Updated on July 29, 2024 by Dogs Vets
Lab-Grown Meat for Pets Gets First UK Approval
In a groundbreaking move, UK regulators have granted approval for lab-grown chicken meat to be used in pet food. This marks the first time such an ingredient has been officially sanctioned anywhere in the world.
At a lab in West London, Helder Cruz, a scientist at Meatly, retrieves a plastic tub containing 280 grams of an off-white paste.
This paste, made from real chicken cells cultivated from a fertilized egg, represents a significant advancement in pet food technology.
Meatly has achieved a major milestone by becoming the first company to receive regulatory approval in the UK for using lab-grown chicken cells in pet food.
Approval Details and Industry Impact
The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) issued this historic approval on July 2. In the UK, lab-grown animal cells for pet food are categorized as animal byproducts.
This approval permits Meatly to supply its lab-grown chicken cells to certified pet food manufacturers, integrating this novel ingredient into their products.
Company Insights and Future Plans
Meatly’s CEO, Owen Ensor, emphasizes the company’s commitment to transparency and regulatory engagement.
He reveals that Meatly has already dispatched samples of their chicken cells to pet food manufacturers for nutritional testing and formulation trials.
The initial product incorporating Meatly’s cells will be dog food, potentially appearing on UK store shelves before year’s end.
However, Ensor highlights that cost reduction and scaling up production remain the company’s primary focus at this stage.
Challenges and Cost Considerations
Despite this milestone, the lab-grown meat industry is still relatively small compared to the traditional meat sector.
The costs associated with cultivating animal cells remain high due to the complex nutrient requirements. Meatly is addressing these challenges by blending their lab-grown cells with plant-based ingredients, which helps lower production costs.
Additionally, they are exploring ways to use less expensive proteins in their growth medium to further reduce expenses.
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Comparative Landscape and Investment
Several other companies are exploring cultivated pet food, including Austria’s BioCraft Pet Nutrition and Czech Republic’s Bene Meat Technologies.
However, these firms have secured significantly less investment compared to those focused on human-grade cultivated meat.
Anthony Chow, co-founder of Agronomics, an early investor in Meatly, praises the company for achieving regulatory approval within just two years and with modest investment.
Ensor notes that while the current cost of the lab-grown ingredient is high, it will be positioned as a premium product in the market.
Conclusion
The approval of lab-grown chicken meat for pet food in the UK represents a significant breakthrough in the pet nutrition industry.
With ongoing advancements and cost reduction efforts, Meatly is poised to lead the way in this innovative sector.
References:
- Meatly’s Innovative Approach to Lab-Grown Pet Food
- UK APHA Approval Details
- Cost Challenges in Cultivated Meat Production
Source: Wired.com
