Lab-grown chicken approved for sale in US | GMA

ABC News

22 Jun 202302:30

Summary

TLDRThe USDA has given the green light to the sale of lab-grown chicken, marking a first in the U.S. This cell-cultivated meat, produced by companies like California-based Upside Foods, is grown from real animal cells in bioreactors, promising a more sustainable and potentially healthier alternative to traditional farming. With the potential to significantly reduce land and water usage, as well as greenhouse gas emissions, this technology could revolutionize meat production. The texture and taste, while slightly different, are close to conventional chicken, and it's expected to appear on restaurant menus soon, with wider availability in the coming years.

Takeaways

🐔 **Lab-Grown Chicken Approval**: The USDA has approved the sale of lab-grown chicken in the U.S., marking a significant step in the commercialization of cell-cultured meat.
🌱 **Environmental Benefits**: Cultivated meat production is suggested to be more environmentally friendly, potentially using less land and water compared to traditional animal farming.
🔬 **Scientific Process**: The meat is grown from real animal cells in large bioreactors, which are fed with nutrients to facilitate growth.
📈 **Production Efficiency**: Cultivated meat can be produced more quickly and in larger quantities within a controlled facility, compared to traditional farming methods.
🥢 **Taste and Texture**: The reporter's experience suggests that lab-grown chicken has a taste similar to conventional chicken but with a slightly different texture, described as 'rubbery'.
🏢 **Commercialization**: Upside Foods, a California-based company, is leading the way as the first and largest cultivated meat producer in the nation.
📅 **Timeline for Market Entry**: The company aims to have lab-grown chicken on restaurant menus within weeks and in stores within five years.
🌐 **Global Impact**: The technology could help feed the growing global population with a more sustainable approach to meat production.
🔍 **Further Research**: Despite the positive outlook, experts emphasize the need for more research to fully understand the implications of consuming lab-grown meat.
🍽️ **Public Reception**: There is a mix of curiosity and skepticism about lab-grown meat, with some expressing interest in trying it while others are deterred by the texture description.

Q & A

What is the significance of the USDA approving cell-cultured meat for sale?
-The USDA approving cell-cultured meat for sale is significant as it marks the first time such a product is allowed to be sold to the public, potentially leading to a new era in the meat industry with implications for the environment, animal welfare, and food production.
How is cell-cultured meat produced?
-Cell-cultured meat is produced by taking a few cells from a chicken or an egg and growing them in large bioreactors fed with nutrients. This process allows for the creation of meat without raising animals on farms.
What are the environmental benefits of cell-cultured meat mentioned in the script?
-The script suggests that cell-cultured meat could help feed the world's growing population using a fraction of the land and water required for traditional animal farming, and it could also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
How does the taste and texture of cell-cultured chicken compare to traditionally farmed chicken?
-According to Devin Dwyer's experience, the cell-cultured chicken tasted like chicken but had a slightly different texture, which was described as being a bit rubbery.
What is the potential timeline for cell-cultured chicken to appear on restaurant menus and store shelves?
-The company, Upside Foods, hopes to have cell-cultured chicken on restaurant menus in the next few weeks and possibly on store shelves within the next five years.
How does the production process of cell-cultured meat compare to traditional farming in terms of efficiency?
-The script implies that cell-cultured meat can be produced more quickly and with less environmental impact than traditional farming, as it can grow the equivalent of a large number of chickens in a much shorter time frame within a factory setting.
What is the current stance of experts regarding the introduction of cell-cultured meat?
-While the script does not provide specific expert opinions, it does mention that more study is needed, suggesting that there is ongoing debate and research into the implications of cell-cultured meat.
Are there any concerns raised in the script about the texture of cell-cultured chicken?
-Yes, the script mentions that the texture of cell-cultured chicken was a bit different and rubbery, which could be a point of consideration for consumers.
What is the role of startups in the cell-cultured meat industry according to the script?
-The script indicates that dozens of startup companies are getting involved in the cell-cultured meat industry, suggesting a growing interest and investment in this sector.
How does the script address the issue of animal cruelty in relation to cell-cultured meat?
-The script briefly touches on the reduction in animal cruelty as a potential benefit of cell-cultured meat, as it does not involve raising and slaughtering animals.
What is the public's initial reaction to the idea of cell-cultured meat as depicted in the script?
-The script shows a mixed reaction, with some expressing interest in trying cell-cultured meat due to the reduction in animal cruelty, while others express skepticism based on the described texture.

Outlines

00:00

🐓 Lab-Grown Chicken Approved for Sale in the U.S.

The USDA has given the green light for the first time to sell cell-cultivated meat to the public. This lab-grown chicken is produced in high-tech facilities using real animal cells and bioreactors, which could be beneficial for the environment and health. The process involves taking a few cells from a chicken or an egg and growing them in large tanks, potentially producing a significant amount of meat more efficiently than traditional farming. Upside Foods, a California-based company, is leading the way in this technology and aims to have their product on restaurant menus soon, with a broader rollout to stores within five years. The texture of the meat is reported to be slightly different, with a hint of rubberiness, but it still tastes like chicken. The move towards lab-grown meat is seen as a step towards more sustainable food production, potentially reducing land and water use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Lab-grown chicken

Lab-grown chicken refers to meat that is produced through cellular agriculture, where cells from animals are cultured in a lab to grow into meat without raising the animal itself. In the video, lab-grown chicken is highlighted as a new food technology approved for sale in the U.S., which could potentially revolutionize the meat industry by offering an alternative to traditionally farmed meat.

💡USDA approval

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) approval is a regulatory process where food products are reviewed and deemed safe for public consumption. In the context of the video, the USDA's approval of cell-cultured meat is a significant milestone, indicating that lab-grown chicken has met safety standards and is now allowed to be sold to the public.

💡Cultivated meat

Cultivated meat is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment, typically using bioreactors. This method does not involve raising or slaughtering animals. The video discusses cultivated meat as a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional meat production, with the first cultivated meat producer, Upside Foods, being featured.

💡Bioreactors

Bioreactors are large containers used for growing cells or tissues, often used in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In the context of the video, bioreactors are used to grow meat from animal cells, providing a controlled environment with nutrients to support cell growth. This technology is central to the production of lab-grown chicken.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability in the video refers to the ability to maintain or improve environmental conditions without depleting natural resources. The production of lab-grown chicken is presented as a sustainable alternative to traditional farming because it requires less land and water and potentially reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

💡Greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The video suggests that lab-grown meat production could help reduce these emissions compared to conventional livestock farming, which is a significant source of greenhouse gases.

💡Animal cruelty

Animal cruelty refers to the infliction of suffering or harm on animals. The video implies that lab-grown meat could be a more ethical choice for consumers concerned about animal welfare, as it does not involve raising and slaughtering animals for food.

💡Texture

Texture in the context of the video refers to the physical feel of the lab-grown chicken, which is described as being slightly different from traditionally farmed chicken. The reporter mentions that the lab-grown chicken had a texture that was 'a little bit rubberier,' indicating that while it was close to real chicken, there were noticeable differences.

💡Startup companies

Startup companies are new businesses that are in the early stages of development. The video mentions that dozens of startup companies are entering the field of cultivated meat, indicating a growing interest and investment in this sector as an alternative to traditional meat production.

💡Restaurant menus

Restaurant menus in the video represent a potential avenue for consumers to try lab-grown chicken. The mention of Upside Foods hoping to get their product on restaurant menus suggests that this technology is moving from the lab to the consumer market, potentially changing the dining experience.

💡Store shelves

Store shelves refer to the retail space where products are displayed for sale in supermarkets. The video discusses the possibility of lab-grown chicken being available on store shelves within the next five years, indicating the potential for widespread consumer access to this new type of meat.

Highlights

The USDA has approved cell-cultured meat for public sale in the U.S. for the first time.

Americans consumed 75 billion pounds of red meat and chicken in the previous year.

Cell-cultured meat is produced in high-tech facilities, not on farms.

Scientists suggest lab-grown meat could be beneficial for the environment and health.

Cultivated meat is grown using real animal cells and bioreactors with nutrients.

Upside Foods, a California-based company, is the first and largest cultivated meat producer in the U.S.

The process of growing meat in a factory can be faster and cleaner than traditional farming.

Cell-cultured meat production could significantly reduce the land and water usage compared to animal farming.

It is expected to help combat greenhouse gas emissions.

Devin Dwyer, the reporter, tried cell-cultured chicken and noted its taste was similar to traditional chicken.

The texture of the lab-grown chicken was described as slightly different, more rubbery.

Upside Foods aims to have their product on restaurant menus within the next few weeks.

The company plans to have cell-cultured meat on store shelves within the next five years.

Dozens of startups are entering the cell-cultured meat industry.

A California restaurant will roll out lab-grown chicken next month.

The discussion on the potential reduction in animal cruelty due to lab-grown meat.

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