2 min read
The first lab-grown meat dog treats have officially gone on sale in the UK, marking a groundbreaking step in both the pet food industry and sustainable agriculture. These cultivated chicken snacks, branded as Chick Bites, are available at the U.K. pet food retailer Pets at Home, which also serves as a key investor in Meatly, the startup behind the innovative lab-grown meat ingredient. Incorporating various plant-derived components, the snacks are marketed as low-carbon, cruelty-free alternatives.
In July of the previous year, Meatly, which asserts a pioneering position in the retail of cultured meat for pet food, received regulatory approval for its product, thereby marking a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Europe. The cultivated flesh, referred to as Meatly Chicken, is produced in bioreactors following a singular cell harvest from an individual chicken egg.
Although the Chick Bites are currently marketed as a “limited release,” the company harbours ambitious plans to enhance production and make the product more widely available to consumers. Meatly is poised for further development, with aspirations to expand its product offerings in the near future. This represents their inaugural endeavour in the commercialisation of lab-grown flesh for canine consumption.
This innovative product reflects the growing interest in sustainable and ethical food alternatives, even for pets, as consumers seek ways to reduce their environmental impact.
