Lab-grown food could hit UK supermarket shelves by 2027

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is exploring ways to expedite the approval process for lab-grown foods, known as Cultivated Cell Products (CCPs), with the goal of completing safety evaluations on two such products within the next two years.

Eight companies have been selected to participate in the agency’s regulatory ‘sandbox’, representing a diverse range of international expertise. UK-based Hoxton Farms, Roslin Technologies and Uncommon Bio will collaborate with global firms including BlueNalu (USA), Mosa Meat (The Netherlands), Gourmey (France), Vital Meat (France) and Vow (Australia).

In October, the FSA received £1.6 million in funding from the Government’s Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund (EBSF) to launch an innovative sandbox programme for CCPs. This funding will help further the development of the regulatory framework for these products and accelerate their path to market.

Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor at the FSA, emphasised that consumer safety will remain paramount during the process.

Professor May commented:

In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorise the sale of cell-cultivated meat for human consumption, followed by the United States in 2023 and Israel in 2024.

However, while the UK has played a key role in advancing lab-grown food science, it has faced delays in commercialising these products due to regulatory hurdles. By refining its approval process, the FSA hopes to position the UK as a leader in this emerging sector.

Pets get the first taste

While lab-grown food for humans has yet to reach UK shelves, cultivated meat is already available for pets. Last month, British firm Meatly launched “Chick Bites” — dog treats combining plant-based ingredients with cultivated chicken — in collaboration with plant-based dog food brand THE PACK. The product debuted at Pets at Home in Brentford, London, marking the UK’s first retail sale of cultivated meat.

Meatly’s process involves growing chicken meat from a single sample of cells taken from an egg, producing a sustainable food source without slaughtering animals.

As the FSA works to accelerate the regulatory framework, the UK food industry is set for a significant shift. If successful, lab-grown foods could provide consumers with safer, greener choices while bolstering the country’s reputation for food innovation.