Lab grown food could be on UK shelves soon
10 March 2025, 14:04
Food grown from cells in a lab could be sold in the UK within two years.
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Cells from plants or animals are grown in a controlled environment to make food products.
The Food Standards Agency said it was committed to completing the full safety assessment of two cell-cultivated products (CCPs) within the next two years.
In February, a dog treat made from cultivated meat went on sale at Pets at Home in a move the retailer claimed was a world first.
In July last year, the UK backed cultivated meat for use in pet food, after chicken produced by the firm Meatly was approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
The treat, called Chick Bites, is made from plant-based ingredients combined with cultivated meat, which is produced by growing cells and does not require the raising or slaughter of animals.
Meatly said the chicken was produced from a single sample of cells taken from one chicken egg, from which enough cultivated meat could be produced to feed pets "forever".
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Hoxton Farms was launched in 2020 by Ed Steele and Max Jamilly, and has been pioneering technology to grow animal fat products that "look, cook and taste like the real thing".
FSA chief scientific adviser Professor Robin May said: "Safe innovation is at the heart of this programme.
"By prioritising consumer safety and making sure new foods, like CCPs, are safe we can support growth in innovative sectors
"Our aim is to ultimately provide consumers with a wider choice of new food, while maintaining the highest safety standards."
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Science minister Lord Vallance said: "By supporting the safe development of cell-cultivated products, we're giving businesses the confidence to innovate and accelerating the UK's position as a global leader in sustainable food production.
"This work will not only help bring new products to market faster, but strengthen consumer trust, supporting our Plan for Change and creating new economic opportunities across the country."
The businesses participating in the programme are Hoxton Farms, Roslin Technologies and Uncommon Bio, all from the UK, BlueNalu (US), Mosa Meat (the Netherlands), Gourmey and Vital Meat (France) and Vow (Australia).
