Clean meat what is it?
Recently there was been a new phenomenon called “clean meat”, clean meat appears to be a marketing term but at its simplest is a meat substitute that has two very different methods either vegetable-based or lab grown cultivation of in vitro animal cells. Clean meat is marketed to those who have a religious, ethical or dietary aversion to animal-based protein.
| Process | Output | Animal Based? | Best Known Brands |
| Vegetable based Proteins | Burger, Sausages, Ground Minced Beef Chicken Strips (discontinued) | Non-Animal based Protein Not Organic
| Impossible Food Beyond Meat |
| In Vitro Cell Harvesting | Burger, Sausages, Ground Minced Beef
| Animal Based Protein Genetically Modified | Memphis Meats Meatable |
Vegetable based protein, how does this work? There are two methods:
- DNA from soy plants and inserted it into a genetically engineered yeast. And they ferment this yeast into a meat alternative.
- Through a proprietary process of heating and cooling plant protein is arranged in a similar structure to meat.
While the processes are different, we have been here before with products like Quorn for years and the Chinese have been using plant-based proteins like Tofu for centuries.
In Vitro Cell Harvesting, how does this work?
- Harvest Embryonic Cells
- The cells are then treated by applying a proteinthat promotes tissue growth, which is known as a growth medium usually Foetal Bovine Serum $1200 a litre.
- They are then placed in a culture medium, in a bio-reactor or Vat that must be powered
- To culture three-dimensional meat, the cells are grown on a scaffold
- The product comes out yellow and must be dyed red
- Iron & B12 will have to added to the meat, as well as preservative sodium benzoate
- Contaminated wasted bi-product that will have to be treated or disposed of.
All of these companies have played up their environmental credentials, claiming that they are saving the planet. It should be noted that both Beyond Meat & Impossible foods are considering IPO’s and have spent large sums marketing their companies and products and have highly aggressively marketed their products environmental credentials and have been highly critical of natural livestock production. Given that 5% of the population is Vegetarian while 3% are Vegan in order to achieve mass market sales, time will tell if these companies, will continue to market in this aggressive fashion or increase in their criticism of traditional livestock husbandry.
