JUST has received the world’s first regulatory approval for a cultivated meat product. The company that brought us the incredible vegan egg got approval from food safety officials in Singapore to sell their cultivated chicken bites. JUST has also developed other cultivated chicken products they plan to debut.
Cultivated meat is made directly from animal cells, so the end result is real meat that did not come from a slaughtered animal. JUST plans to roll out the chicken bites at restaurants in Singapore before selling them directly to consumers. Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of JUST, made a statement about the exciting news:
I’m sure that our regulatory approval for cultured meat will be the first of many in Singapore and in countries around the globe.
This first-ever approval of meat created directly from animal cells is a game-changer. Factory farming causes severe harm to the environment, animals, and public health. Increasingly, scientists are calling for a mass reduction in meat consumption to fight climate change, and COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of the meat industry and the pandemic risk posed by factory farming.
But for a variety of reasons, not all consumers are willing to switch to plant-based meat. This is why making real animal meat from cells is so important. Bruce Friedrich, executive director of the nonprofit The Good Food Institute, explained how Singapore is paving the way for cultivated meat:
Singapore has thrown down the gauntlet and other countries need to pick it up. Cultivated meat will mark an enormous advance in our efforts to create a food supply that is safe, secure, and sustainable, and Singapore is leading the way on this transition. A new space race for the future of food is underway. As nations race to divorce meat production from industrial animal agriculture, countries that delay their investment in this bright food future risk getting left behind.
Even if cultivated meat isn’t for you, it has enormous potential to foster positive global change and alleviate the daily suffering of billions of factory-farmed animals.
But there’s no need to wait for cultivated meat to start making a difference for animals! Tons of delicious plant-based options are already available at a grocery store near you. For fantastic vegan meal ideas and recipes, order a FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide today.