As applications for lab-grown meat rise, it may reach UK supermarkets within years.
- The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received applications for lab-grown steak, beef, chicken, and foie gras.
- Ensuring safety equivalent to traditional meat is a primary focus before market release.
- Professor Robin May highlights the different approach in producing lab-grown meat compared to traditional processes.
- Approval processes will involve academic collaboration and might take over two years.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has indicated that lab-grown meat could soon be available in leading UK supermarkets, following a rise in applications for these innovative products. Currently, the agency has received submissions for items such as steak, beef, chicken, and foie gras. The arrival of additional applications, potentially 15 more, is anticipated within the next two years, demonstrating the growing interest and investment in this sector.
A critical aspect of the introduction of lab-grown meat is ensuring that it meets safety standards on par with those of traditional meat. Professor Robin May, the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser, emphasises the importance of this step, noting that while companies aim to make lab-grown products indistinguishable from their traditional counterparts, the methodologies employed to achieve this are fundamentally different. This includes the use of complex growth media and growth factors, which must be assessed for safety to ensure no remnants that could pose risks remain in the final product.
Professor May raises pertinent questions about safety: “You create cells typically with a very complex cocktail of growth media and growth factors. Are they all safe? Because there might be some left in the final product. Also, are there any genetic changes in the cells that might make them in some way hazardous?” These concerns underline the agency’s commitment to delivering food that consumers can trust, ensuring comprehensive safety assessments are conducted.
The approval process, as outlined by the FSA, is expected to take over two years, involving collaboration with academic experts and lab-grown meat producers to establish an efficient safety and approval framework. This initiative aligns with previous developments, such as the approval of the first lab-grown meat brand in Europe earlier in the year, signifying a pivotal moment in the food industry’s evolution.
With rigorous safety assessments underway, lab-grown meat is poised to play a significant role in the future of food retail in the UK.
