Singapore Agency approves sale of Lab-Grown Meat

Singapore Agency approves sale of Lab-Grown Meat

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Sci & Tech

In news

• The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved the sale of a lab-grown meat product. 
• This is the first time cultured meat has been cleared for sale anywhere in the world.
• The product approved by the SFA is cultured chicken, produced by US-based East Just.

Difference between lab-grown meat and plant-based meat

• The latter is made from plant sources such as soy or pea protein, while cultured meat is grown directly from cells in a laboratory.
• Both have the same objectives: To offer alternatives to traditional meat products that could feed a lot more people, reduce the threat of zoonotic diseases, and mitigate the environmental impact of meat consumption.
• In terms of cellular structure, cultured meat is the same as conventional meat except that cultured meat does not come directly from animals.
• Benefits: (1) Cultivated meat could reduce land use by more than 95%; (2) It could reduce climate change emissions by 74-87% and nutrient pollution by 94%; (3) The risk of contamination by pathogens such as salmonella and E coli is significantly reduced; (4) It does not require antibiotics thereby reducing the threat posed to public health by growing antibiotic resistance.