Innovative food firm Meatly has received regulatory clearance to sell cultivated meat for pet food in the UK.
UK’s regulatory bodies the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have confirmed that Meatly complies with all necessary regulations. Meatly has also passed APHA’s inspection process and has committed to adhering to regular inspections by the body.
Meatly is the first company in the world to get authorisation for cultivated meat pet food as well as being the first cultivated meat company approved for sale in any European country. As a result of this process, Meatly’s cultivated chicken for pet food can now be sold in the UK and the company plans to launch the first samples of commercially-available pet food this year.
Manufacturer Omni has worked closely with Meatly to develop a cultivated meat pet food brand and Pets at Home, which is an investor in Meatly, has previously indicated that it would stock the product once regulatory approval had been granted. Meatly has stated its primary focus will be on cost reduction, and it will start scaling production to reach industrial volumes in the next three years.
Cultivated meat is produced by growing an initial sample of animal cells in a controlled environment similar to making yogurt or beer. By “feeding” the cells with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, the starter cells grow into pieces of meat.
As well as eliminating the need to slaughter live animals, the process reduces land and water usage and requires no antibiotics. Meatly’s cultivated chicken is expected to use up to 64% less land and 28% less water than conventional meat production, the company says.
Commenting on the announcement, Meatly ceo Owen Ensor said: “Today marks a significant milestone for the European cultivated meat industry.
“I’m incredibly proud that Meatly is the first company in Europe to get the green light to sell cultivated meat. We are proving that there is a safe and low-capital way to rapidly bring cultivated meat to market.
“We’re delighted to have worked proactively alongside the UK’s regulators to showcase that Meatly chicken is safe and healthy for pets. Pet parents are crying out for a better way to feed their cats and dogs meat – we’re so excited to meet this demand. We can now continue our mission to give consumers an easy choice – ensuring we can feed our beloved pets the real meat they need and crave, in a way that is kinder to our planet and other animals.”
Jim Mellon, founder of Agronomics, an investor in Meatly, added: “Meatly’s regulatory approval is a landmark event for the industry. Through its technological innovation and close work with governing authorities, Meatly is helping prove that we can succeed in commercialising cultivated products for pets across the UK.
“Our pets consume huge amounts of meat every day and so this development can play a crucial part in reducing the emissions, resource consumption, and animal suffering caused by traditional meat production.”
