Lab-grown pet food gains approval in the UK

Britain has authorized the sale of lab-grown meat for pet food, marking a pioneering step in Europe.

Amelia Nierenberg reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• Meatly, a British biotech company, received approval to sell lab-grown chicken cell meat for pets.
• The UK’s move follows Brexit, enabling more flexible regulations compared to the EU.
• Advocates highlight environmental and ethical benefits, such as reduced animal slaughter and pollution.

Key quote:

“We don’t need to raise or kill any animals…Instead of 50 billion chickens a year, it’s one egg, one time, and we’ve created an infinite amount of meat.”

— Owen Ensor, chief executive of Meatly

Why this matters:

Lab-grown pet food can significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet ownership by cutting down on traditional livestock farming. This innovation also addresses ethical concerns associated with meat production, potentially transforming the pet food industry.