Singapore approves new chicken meat - 11th January 2021

Singapore has become the first place in the world to approve a special, 'clean' chicken meat. It's grown by scientists in a laboratory rather than on a farm.

Singapore's decision is big news for US 'clean meat' manufacturer, Eat Just. It can now offer its products to consumers. However, it's unclear when the product will be available. The meat will first appear in the form of chicken nuggets.

Eat Just says its meat is healthy and is produced without antibiotics. Interest in clean meat is on the rise as people become more focused on their health. Concern is also growing for the environment and looking after farm animals. Until now, alternatives to meat have been based on plant sources such as soya. Eat Just's product is grown in a laboratory with cells of animal muscles.

The boss of Eat Just was delighted about the news from Singapore. However, the company still faces challenges such as the product's high production costs. Eat Just had initially priced their chicken nuggets at around $50 each. Although that figure has now dropped, customer concerns over product safety might also limit sales.

An increasing number of businesses are entering the clean meat market, which expects rapid growth. Barclays Bank predicts meat substitutes could be worth 10 per cent of the total meat market within a decade.