Widespread support among consumers for sale of cultivated meat

The study, which was conducted by YouGov and commissioned by the nonprofit think tank Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe), involved interviews with more than 16,000 consumers across 15 European countries.

In eight of the countries involved, more than half of the people surveyed said they would try cultivated meat if it was made available, while more than 40% agreed with this statement in another six countries.

Meanwhile, 69% of people in Portugal, 65% in Germany, 58% in Spain and 57% in Belgium are in favour of cultivated meat being approved for sale if food regulators find it to be safe and nutritious.

The findings come as EU agriculture ministers are set to discuss novel foods including plant-based and cultivated meat over lunch at the next Agrifish Council meeting on 15 July.

Cultivated meat is produced in fermentors but requires approval under the EU’s Novel Foods Regulation before it can be sold in any of the member states. It is only currently legal in the US and Singapore.

Commenting on the findings, senior policy manager at GFI Europe Seth Roberts said: “Cultivated meat must go through one of the world’s most rigorous regulatory processes before it will be available in the EU. This survey shows people across a wide range of countries believe that once it’s been approved, it should be down to consumers to decide whether or not they want to eat it.​

“Europe, as home to dynamic businesses and some of the world’s best scientists, is well-placed to become a world leader in cultivated meat. It’s great to see so many Europeans are ready for its arrival as part of a diversified food system. Policymakers should recognise cultivated meat’s potential to boost food security by supporting this rapidly growing sector.”​

In other news, the president of a Mexican seafood trade body was shot dead after calling out illegal fishing in the country.​​