LAB GROWN “AHIMSA” MEAT

Why in news?:

USA is allowing the sale of chicken made from animal cells and Californian companies Upside Foods and Good Meat were granted permission to sell their products.

This development is seen as a significant step in reducing carbon emissions associated with the global food industry.

What is Cell cultivated meat?: It is derived from a small sample of animal cells which are fed nutrients and grown in steel vats before being processed into cuts of meat.

Livestock doesn’t need to be raised and killed to produce this new type of meat

It is grown from the cells of animals in steel tanks. Though it’s known in the industry as cultivated meat, it’s sometimes called cultured meat, lab-grown meat or cell-based meat.

It involves isolating cells that makeup chicken meat and providing them with the necessary resources to grow and multiply in a controlled environment.

The process takes place in a bioreactor or cultivator. The cells are then processed with additives to enhance texture and appearance before being used in various recipes.

Significance:

It has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land use associated with traditional livestock farming.

It offers customization options for healthier and more sustainable alternatives.

Challenges:

Achieving consumer acceptance, reducing costs, and ensuring the availability of high-quality cells and resources for production.

Food safety aspects : Cell-based food noted several potential issues, such as microbial contamination at various points in the process, biological residues and by-products and scaffolding that some people might be allergic to it.