Lab-Grown Chicken, an Environmental Boon?

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For many people, the idea of lab-grown meat is extremely off-putting. Even though it may not be too different than the hundreds of synthetically produced chemicals we ingest through other foods, something about meat being grown unnaturally seems disgusting at worst and intimidating at best. As one reviewer of lab-grown chicken at MIT dug into her artificial meal, she wondered “if this could be a future staple in my diet, or if the whole thing might turn out to all be smoke and mirrors”.

Synthetic chicken, added to the menus of a few upscale restaurants in California, is still served on a very limited basis, and according to the author, the process creates meat in a highly “labor-intensive set of steps.” However, the environmental benefits of producing lab-grown meat on a large scale could be incredible. Right now, it is expensive and far from energy-efficient to create even small portions of meat, but advancements continue to be made regarding the issue.

A major concern for most people when hearing about lab-grown chicken is the taste and texture. As the author points out, many vegetarian alternatives have softer textures than real meat. Upon eating the lab-grown chicken, she notes that “the bites I slowly chewed and considered were still softer than a chicken breast, [but] they were definitely more chicken-like than other alternatives I’ve tried.”

from the GOOD MEAT website – “GOOD Meat cultivated chicken was first approved for sale in the U.S. in July 2023, following regulatory approval by the FDA and the USDA.
GOOD Meat launched at China Chilcano by José Andrés in Washington D.C. The first diners enjoyed a Peruvian-inspired dish of cultivated chicken marinated with anticucho sauce and served with native potatoes and ají amarillo chimichurri.”

Meat grown in a lab is made from animal cells, but not from living animals, unlike other meat substitutes which are typically made from soy or corn. For those who refrain from eating meat from an ethical standpoint but still enjoy the taste, lab-made meat could be a great alternative!

Regardless of whether you think artificial meat is a great idea or would prefer to keep it off your plate, it may be added to many restaurant menus in the future! Will I be eating lab-grown meat in the future? Actually…no, it kind of grosses me out. But the idea of environmentally friendly meat that tastes just as good is worth giving a thought!

For more from MIT Technology Review on this topic, visit here: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/11/09/1083139/lab-grown-chicken/