Cultivated
meat is produced by collecting animal cells and cultivating them in a
bioreactor, removing the need for traditional slaughtering and minimizing
environmental impacts. While countries like Singapore, the United States, and
Israel have already authorized the sale of cultivated meat, it’s still
prohibited in the EU, even though tastings were approved in the Netherlands in
2023.
To change
this, Mosa Meat has filed a "novel foods" application with the
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), making it the second company to do so
after French startup Gourmey. The approval process is expected to take over a
year, and in a move to comply with the EU’s regulatory requirements, Mosa will
submit individual ingredients separately. The company plans to begin with
cultivated fat—the most flavorful component—followed by muscle tissue in future
submissions. In the meantime, they plan to mix the cultivated fat with
plant-based ingredients to produce burgers, meatballs, and other products,
offering a faster route to market.
Despite the
challenges of regulatory approvals and high production costs, Mosa remains
committed to offering consumers a sustainable alternative to conventional meat.
CEO Maarten Bosch highlighted that the company's hybrid approach, combining
cultivated fat with plant-based elements, ensures they can introduce their
products to the market while still working towards a fully lab-grown meat
offering in the long term.
“Cultivated
meat provides an exciting opportunity for consumers who want a sustainable
option without compromising the taste and experience of traditional meat,”
Bosch said. While obstacles remain, Mosa Meat is determined to overcome them
with a focus on production scaling and scientific advancements, bringing us
closer to a cruelty-free meat future.
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