- Jan 7, 2021

Singapore, the first country to allow the sale of lab-grown meat.

The first in the world to allow cultured meat sold in one of its restaurants, 1880 in Robertson Quay.

Singapore is the first country in the world to grant permission for the sale of lab-grown meat.

On 2 December 2020, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved the sale of lab-grown meat by Eat Just, a San Francisco-based start-up. The American food manufacturer has been allowed to sell its lab-grown chicken meat as an ingredient in chicken nuggets.

Later on, the company’s product has also entered one of Singapore’s restaurants as part of its menu. 1880, a Singapore restaurant in Robertson Quay is the first restaurant in the world to sell cultured meat to the public. They have begun serving the lab-grown meat on 19 December 2020 to those invited to the launch. The meat will be sold at a price that is on par with premium chicken sold at restaurants.

If you have not heard about laboratory-grown meat...

Laboratory-grown meat or so-called clean or cultured meat is made by extracting stem cells from animal muscle cells and growing them in a lab under a controlled environment. Hence, the meat does not come from slaughtered animals. This meat alternative is said to be safer and more sustainable for the earth.

“Our cultured chicken has much lower microbiological content than conventional chicken, because the chicken cells are grown in a safe, sterile and controlled environment.”

- Mr Andrew Noyes, head of global communications at Eat Just.

He then added, “While regular store-bought chicken may have salmonella and Escherichia coli — bacteria associated with food poisoning — Eat Just’s cultured chicken tests negative for all pathogens.”