Cell-Based Meat Safety and Regulatory Approaches: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Biotechnology
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Cell-based meat (CBM) presents a sustainable alternative to traditional animal agriculture, addressing ethical and environmental concerns.
• Commercialization hinges on overcoming significant safety, nutritional, and regulatory hurdles.
• Current challenges include ensuring biological, chemical, and nutritional safety, alongside navigating diverse global regulatory landscapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review critical safety, nutritional, and regulatory considerations for cell-based meat commercialization.
• To highlight the importance of robust manufacturing processes for ensuring CBM safety and quality.
• To examine the evolving regulatory frameworks impacting CBM market entry.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications and regulatory documents.
• Analysis of safety concerns including microbial, chemical, and allergenic hazards.
• Assessment of nutritional requirements for consumer acceptance.
• Examination of global regulatory approaches and approvals.

Main Results:

• Biological safety requires mitigation of microbial contamination and risks from growth media.
• Chemical safety necessitates assessment of residues from media and scaffolding materials.
• Nutritional quality must match conventional meat, with rigorous allergenicity testing.
• Regulatory landscapes vary significantly, with Singapore and the US leading market approvals.

Conclusions:

• Successful cell-based meat integration requires addressing biological, chemical, and nutritional safety challenges.
• Advances in cell culture and biomanufacturing are crucial for high-quality CBM production.
• Navigating and harmonizing global regulatory frameworks is essential for widespread market acceptance.