As we grapple with climate change, mass industrial farming, and a growing global population, finding sustainable food solutions has never been more critical. With lab grown meat being a growing solution, many people want to know: “is lab grown meat healthy?”
In this blog post, we delve into the world of cultivated meat, exploring how it's made, the potential health benefits and concerns, and its overall impact on our food systems and planet.
What is Lab Grown Meat?
Before we answer the question, “is lab grown meat healthy?”, let’s dive into the details of how lab-grown meat is actually made.
Lab-grown meat, also known as cultured or cell-cultivated meat, is produced from animal cells grown in a lab. This process eliminates the need to raise and slaughter animals for food.
We begin by extracting cells from a living animal or egg and place them in a nutrient-rich environment where they can multiply and grow. The result is a crave-worthy product that looks, tastes, and feels like conventionally-grown meat but was never part of an animal's body.
How is Lab Grown Meat Made?
Lab grown meat is produced in a controlled lab environment, which means it is not vulnerable to many of the food safety risks associated with conventionally-grown meat.
Cultured meat technology begins by sourcing cells from an animal. These cells are then grown in bioreactors—which mimic the environment that allows for the natural cellular growth process that happens inside an animal.
Cultivated meat has the potential to be a more sustainable and ethical way to produce meat. Generally speaking, it requires less land, water and energy than traditional livestock farming, and it can produce less greenhouse gasses or animal waste.
Is Lab Grown Meat Healthy?
Lab grown meat has the potential to be healthier than conventional meat. Without the need to breed and raise whole animals, lab grown meat can be produced with more control over nutritional content.
For instance, lab grown meat companies can produce meat with lower saturated fat and higher amounts of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, lab grown doesn’t need to contain antibiotics, hormones, or other drugs used in industrial animal agriculture.
However, some concerns remain about the health effects of lab grown meat. Some have questioned whether or not cultivated meat is a processed food and, therefore, not as healthy as culitvated meat.
These questions are similar to those around tofu. Many people understand that tofu is a processed food but choose to eat it because they believe its nutritional value outweighs any concern about the process in which it is made.
While more research is needed, many experts believe lab grown meat has the potential to be at least as healthy as conventional meat, if not healthier, due to increased control over nutritional content and avoidance of drugs and contaminants common in industrial animal agriculture.
At Believer, we are excited about the possibilities of making our products not only crave-worthy, but also packed with nutritional value.
Is Lab Grown Meat Vegan or Vegetarian
The question "is lab-grown meat vegan?" goes beyond the 88 million vegans globally—it's a question with ethical nuances that intrigue many food enthusiasts. And with recent USDA approval for the sale of lab grown meat, answering this question is growing in importance.
In essence, lab-grown meat consists of real animal cells, but manufactured differently. At Believer, our method is to engage with an animal or egg once in a minimal process, then cultivate cell lines to produce meat indefinitely without re-engagement.
Notably, veganism aims for minimal animal exploitation and cruelty, which sits at the heart of this debate. Some argue that utilizing cells from live animals initially—typically via biopsy—fails the veganism test despite no animals being directly harmed in the process.
Yet, a different cadre of vegans sees lab-grown meat as vegan-friendly, as it lessens the need for conventionally-produced meat and, therefore, could mitigate animal suffering on a grand scale.
So, is lab-grown meat vegan? The answer varies based on personal definitions of veganism with no global consensus in the vegan community yet.
But as technology progresses and implications clarify, we might see an evolution in perspective. For now, it's for each vegan to discern where lab-grown meat lies in their ethical compass.
Is Lab-Grown Meat Safe to Eat?
Lab grown meat is made from the same animal cells used to produce conventional meat, but in a controlled environment. The risk of foodborne illness from pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli, therefore, are significantly lower.
The controlled lab environment also reduces exposure to environmental contaminants. If not done correctly, however, the culturing process could introduce new potential food safety issues, including culture medium contamination, bioreactor hygiene, and improper cell handling.
Lab-grown meat, though, is regulated by the FDA and USDA to ensure safety and mitigate any contamination issues. These entities will have approved our ingredients and process and inspect our plants to ensure that they are meeting all safety standards.
Additionally, Believer follows strict sterile procedures and tests for contaminants at multiple stages. Due to all these measures, we believe lab-grown meat can be produced with a lower risk of foodborne illness than conventional meat.
What are the Benefits of Lab Grown Meat?
There are several benefits to lab grown meat compared to conventional meat:
1. Environmental Sustainability
Lab grown meat is more environmentally sustainable than industrial animal agriculture. It requires fewer crops, land and water. A study found that cultivated meat production could generate up to 96% lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventionally produced meat.
2. Animal Welfare
Lab grown meat is produced without slaughtering animals. Only a small sample of cells is needed, so the process significantly reduces the number of animals required for food. This could prevent the suffering of billions of animals killed each year for food.
3. Nutrition
Lab grown meat allows for more control over nutritional content. Companies can produce meat with lower saturated fat and sodium, and higher healthy fats like omega-3s. It will also be free of antibiotics and contaminants common in industrial meat.
4. Food Safety
The controlled lab environment reduces exposure to environmental pathogens, parasites and contaminants. Automated bioreactors also minimize human contact with the meat during processing. This could make lab grown meat less prone to foodborne illness.
5. Antibiotic-Free
Industrial meat production accounts for nearly 80% of U.S. antibiotic use, which contributes to antibiotic resistance. Lab grown meat does not require the use of antibiotics for growth promotion or disease prevention. This could help curb the rise of "superbugs".
6. Affordability
Finally, cultivated meat has the potential to be as affordable as conventionally-grown meats due to its lower production costs. This is something we at Believer are working hard to achieve, knowing that the future of meat can only be realized when we all have access to it.
Believer Meats recently announced a non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world's leading agricultural processors and food ingredient providers. This agreement could usher in a new era of affordability in cultivated meat.
What are the Challenges of Lab Grown Meat?
While promising, several challenges remain for lab grown meat:
1. Cost
The cost of lab-grown meat has been steadily decreasing since 2013, when it cost over $300,000 to produce a five-ounce hamburger.
However, the cost of lab-grown meat still remains higher than conventional animal agriculture products due to the high costs associated with scaling up production and obtaining regulatory approval.
To make this technology more accessible and affordable for consumers, we are continuing research and development to reduce production costs and increase efficiency.
2. Scale
Current production of lab grown meat is limited, though increasing quickly. As an emerging technology, the industry is still scaling up to meet potential demand. This means that, for now, lab-grown meat remains less accessible than its conventionally farmed counterpart.
3. Regulation
Navigating new oversight and approval processes will take time. With the recent USDA approvals of Eat Just and Upside Foods' cultivated meat, consumers are one step closer to enjoying cultivated meat products in stores and at restaurants.
4. Consumer Awareness
There's a degree of skepticism, which necessitates a larger effort by the industry to bolster consumer awareness around the concept of lab-grown meat and its benefits.
For instance, ethical questions have been raised, particularly within vegan and vegetarian communities, and there are concerns about the potential job losses in conventional farming industries.
This is understandable and will continue to be addressed through education and awareness efforts by Believer Meats and the industry as a whole.
What is the Future of Meat?
Most experts agree that lab grown meat will eventually transform the meat industry, though the timelines vary. Within the next few years, it is likely that lab grown meat may achieve price parity, gain mainstream consumer acceptance, and secure regulatory approval.
Some envision it making up a sizable portion of meat production, reducing the number of animals farmed for food by up to 90% or more.
However, lab grown meat is unlikely to completely replace animal agriculture. Conventional meat will likely remain as an option for many. Additionally, smaller-scale animal farming could continue for niche markets.
Hybrid production systems are also possible, using both cultured cells and live animals. Cells could be harvested from live animals reared on sustainable farms with high welfare standards.
It is most likely that consumers will increasingly see a variety of cultivated meat and conventional options on the store shelves and at their favorite restaurants. This is good for consumer choice, the environment and meeting the growing demand for meat.
Lab Grown Meat and Our Future Health
Lab-grown meat has emerged as a promising solution to the many challenges posed by conventional meat production, particularly concerning health. It promises to offer increased nutritional control, reducing unhealthy fats while potentially enhancing beneficial ones.
Answering “is lab grown meat healthy?” requires a look at the current state of lab grown meat and where it’s headed. Lab-grown meat stands as a compelling innovation, potentially shifting the dynamics of the meat we consume and influencing our health in positive ways.
Following along at The Source as we continue to dive deeper into lab grown meat, our industry and the exciting developments that are marking the future of meat.
