Singapore Meatshop Launches World's First Retail Lab-Grown Meat

By John Lopez

May 16, 2024 03:17 PM EDT

Huber's Butchery in Singapore was the world's first retail store to sell lab-grown chicken meat directly to customers.

SINGAPORE-FOOD-SCIENCE-ENVIRONMENT — A nugget made from lab-grown chicken meat is seen during a media presentation in Singapore, the first country to allow the sale of meat created without slaughtering any animals, on December 22, 2020.
(Photo : Photo by NICHOLAS YEO/AFP via Getty Images)

World's First Retail Lab-Grown Meat

The groundbreaking move, controversial for some, resulted from a collaboration between the butcher shop and California-based Good Meat, a subsidiary of Eat Just Inc. (via Food Safety News).

Starting May 16, customers at Huber's Butchery can purchase Good Meat's novel product, GOOD Meat 3, from the freezer section.

Unlike the conventional chicken, GOOD Meat 3 comprises only 3 percent animal cells, and the rest is a plant protein.

Priced at SGD 7.20 ($5.35) for a 120-gram portion, GOOD Meat 3 offers consumers in Singapore an opportunity to experience cultivated meat in the comfort of their own homes.

This launch is part of Good Meat's mission to meet the growing demand for alternative protein sources and contribute to food innovation efforts in the region.

Opinions on Lab-Grown Meat

While Singapore has embraced novel food technologies like lab-grown meat, recent regulations in the United States have banned cultivated meat production and sales in states like Florida - years before a single brand even made it to the shelves.

Lawmakers claimed the efforts were made to protect the agricultural sector while touting a handful of popular conspiracy theories.

Since 2020, Singapore has been at the forefront of regulatory approval for cultivated meat, allowing companies like Good Meat to pioneer the market and explore opportunities for growth and expansion.

Opinions among meat scientists regarding cultivated meat vary. Some are optimistic about its potential to address environmental and ethical concerns, while others express reservations about its widespread adoption.

Despite barriers and controversies hindering industry growth, the global cultured meat market, valued at $246 million in 2022, is projected to reach $94 billion by 2030.

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