The world’s first cultured chicken nugget was sold at 1880, a private members’ club in Singapore, on December 19.
The nugget, produced by U.S. start-up Eat Just Inc., was served as a part of a trio of sample dishes that retailed for approximately $23. The dishes are influenced by the flavors of China, Brazil and the United States, three of the top chicken-producing countries globally.
"This historic step, the first-ever commercial sale of cultured meat, moves us closer to a world where the majority of meat we eat will not require tearing down a single forest, displacing a single animal’s habitat or using a single drop of antibiotics. We’re thrilled to partner with 1880 to launch a product that will someday be served on the dinner tables of families living in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama, to the skyscrapers of Shanghai," said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just.
Cultured meat is made from real animal cells that are grown with the help of a culture medium in a stainless-steel tank known as a bioreactor, resulting in a product that resembles the taste, appearance and texture of chicken, beef, pork and other meats.
Advocates of cultured meat say that the process is more efficient, flexible and consistent than traditional agriculture and there is a growing interest in and openness in trying cultured meat among consumers.
“We are honored to host the global launch of Eat Just’s first cultured meat product. This is a revolutionary step towards solving climate change and creating the opportunity to feed the world without overwhelming the planet,” said 1880 Founder Marc Nicholson, a serial entrepreneur whose past endeavors include venture capital, advertising and a chain of barber shops.
Groundbreaking regulatory approval
Eat Just Inc. made headlines when the company received regulatory approval to sell its lab-grown chicken nuggets commercially within the city-state of Singapore. The December 1 announcement marked the first time worldwide that cultured meat received the green light for human consumption.
"Eat Just is paving the way for the cellular agriculture industry, which has the potential to completely transform our food systems today to make them more sustainable and humane," said Patrick Morris, CEO of Eat Beyond.
"Singapore is a market that we have been watching closely and it is truly leading the way by driving forward with the adoption of this technology. With the country's small geographic footprint, it should come as no surprise that the country is seeking alternatives to traditional agriculture."
Eat Just already has a wide range of non-animal products, including Just Egg, made with mung beans, and a vegan mayonnaise, available commercially. Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to launch an Asian subsidiary, including a factory in Singapore.
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