Are lab meats our future? Part 1

レアジョブ英会話 Daily News Article Podcast

Last November, Singapore made headlines as the first country to approve the sale of lab-grown chicken meat. The lab-cultured chicken was developed by Californian company Eat Just, which sells it under its Good Meat brand. It’s been offered at a private members club in Singapore since January. In a media interview, Eat Just’s chief executive Josh Tetrick said the company is looking to expand to other restaurants, and “anywhere selling chicken.” The product is likely to retail in supermarkets in the second half of 2022. For now, the product is only available to club members. They have to pay 23 Singaporean dollars (about ¥1,900) for a plate of two gourmet creations: a cultured chicken nugget served with a maple waffle and hot sauce, and a slice of sesame cultured chicken with pickled cucumber and spring onion in a Chinese bun. Given the exclusivity of the club, few in Singapore have had the chance to try it. However, even when the club makes it available to the public in the near future, demand may be lukewarm at best. Most of my friends are skeptical of lab-grown meat because they feel uncomfortable with the idea of eating something that was grown from animal muscle cells in a lab. In comparison, plant-based meat substitutes may be easier to swallow. Products such as Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger, OmniMeat and Quorn are available in local supermarkets, as well as some restaurants and fast-food eateries. (Tan Ying Zhen) To be continued… This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.