Science Weekly Slaughter-free sausages: is lab-grown meat the future?
Jun 11, 2024
Science journalist Linda Geddes talks about her trip to the Netherlands to try lab-grown sausages from Meatable, discussing their sustainable and ethical implications, the process of making them in fermentation tanks, their taste compared to traditional meat, and the potential future of cultivated meat production as a solution to environmental challenges.
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Trying Lab-Grown Sausage
- Linda Geddes tried lab-grown sausages at a Dutch company called Meatable.
- She was surprised the sausages tasted just like conventional pork sausages, a major scientific success.
How Cultivated Pork Is Made
- Cultivated meat starts from pig blastocyst cells cultured and pushed to become fat or muscle.
- These cells grow extensively before being harvested to make products like sausages.
Future Variety of Cultivated Meats
- Startups are creating a range of cultivated meats including steak, chicken, pork, octopus, and foie gras.
- Techniques include growing on protein scaffolds and 3D printing to recreate texture.