Two innovative companies in the cultivated-meat industry, Eat Just and Upside Foods, have recently received full approvals from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell their lab-grown chicken products in the United States. These approvals come after confirmation from the Food and Drug Administration that their cell-cultivated meat is safe for human consumption. Both companies are starting small, with Upside Foods partnering with a restaurant in San Francisco called Bar Crenn, and Eat Just collaborating with a restaurant owned by celebrity chef Jose Andrés in Washington, D.C.
So, is lab-grown meat the future of the food industry? To gain insights into the potential impact of cultivated meat, Yahoo News spoke with Bill Winders, a sociology professor specializing in food and agriculture at Georgia Tech and co-editor of the book “Global Meat: Social and Environmental Consequences of the Expanding Meat Industry.” Here are some highlights from the interview:
Yahoo News: How will cultivated meat change our food habits?
Bill Winders: Initially, cultivated meat will have a minimal impact on meat production in the United States. However, in the long term, it may not bring about significant changes to factory farming. Major meat companies could also enter the cultivated meat market as they did with plant-based meats to maintain their profits from traditional meat production.
Yahoo News: Will cell-cultivated meat compete with plant-based alternatives?
Bill Winders: Plant-based meats have grown rapidly compared to lab-grown meats due to their usage of readily available ingredients. Lab-grown meat is an expensive and technology-intensive process. Therefore, it is unlikely to pose a significant competitive threat to plant-based alternatives.
Yahoo News: Does lab-grown meat taste different from traditional meat?
Bill Winders: Lab-grown meat is said to taste similar to traditional meat, with some differences in appearance. It offers comparable nutrition as well.
Yahoo News: Will lab-grown chicken be labeled as such?
Bill Winders: The recent USDA ruling requires lab-grown chicken to be labeled as “cell-cultivated” in stores. However, it is unclear how this regulation will impact restaurants serving lab-grown meat.
Yahoo News: Could cultivated meat be considered a more ethical alternative for vegetarians?
Bill Winders: Ethical implications are varied. Lab-grown meat does eliminate issues related to animal raising and slaughter, making it appealing to some vegetarians and vegans. However, the consumption of animals itself remains a concern for many, so the appeal of lab-grown meat may be limited to those who eat meat but are conscious of animal welfare.
Yahoo News: Can cultivated meat help address global challenges like hunger and environmental impact?
Bill Winders: Lab-grown meat is unlikely to alleviate world hunger or increase access to meat due to its current high cost. In terms of the environment, the energy and emissions associated with cultivated-meat production are yet to be fully understood. While it has the potential to reduce methane and CO2 emissions from traditional meat production, there may be other environmental trade-offs to consider.
