Dog owners in the UK can now dish up some grub for their pets that’s never even seen a farm, thanks to a mad new product by London-based outfit Meatly. They’ve brought out “chick bites,” the world’s first pet food made from lab-grown meat. Aye, ye heard right – meat that’s never clucked or flapped a wing.
How’s It Made Then?
Meatly’s way of cooking up this meat is a bit like brewing yer da’s homebrew. Founder Owen Ensor says they start with a few cells from a single chicken egg, stick them in massive steel vats, and within a week – boom! You’ve got meat for the dog without any of the messy business of farming.
“From that one egg, we can keep makin’ meat forevermore,” Ensor said.
What’s the Craic with Lab-Grown Meat?
The folk behind it say this could slash carbon emissions, cut down water usage, and free up land that’s normally used for raising livestock. Given that pet food chomps through about 20% of all meat in places like the UK, this could be a game-changer for keeping things green.
Professor Guy Poppy from the University of Bristol reckons it’s a win-win: “This gives us the perks of meat without wrecking the planet.”
What’s the Word on the Street?
Not everyone’s buzzing about it, mind. While Singapore and the US have given lab-grown meat the thumbs up for humans, Italy and some American states like Alabama and Florida have outright banned it.
Closer to home, UK pet owners are a bit split on it. Some, like Charlotte Bloyce, are all for lowering their pet’s carbon pawprint. Others, like Allie Betts, aren’t keen, saying if they wouldn’t eat it themselves, they don’t want their dog scoffing it either.
The British Veterinary Association’s sittin’ on the fence too, saying more research is needed on whether it’s safe and sustainable long-term.
What’s Next for Lab-Grown Dog Scran?
Meatly admits the stuff’s still dear at the minute, but Ensor’s confident the price will drop. “We’ve already slashed costs big time over the last couple of years and we’re only getting started,” he says.
With the world lookin’ for ways to be more eco-friendly, could this be the future of dog food? Only time will tell if it catches on or ends up just another flash in the pan. Either way, it’s got folk talking!
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