World’s First Lab-Grown Meat Dog Treats Launched

In a groundbreaking development for the pet food industry, U.K.-based cultivated meat producer Meatly has partnered with plant-based dog food brand The Pack to introduce Chick Bites — the world’s first dog treats made from lab-grown meat. These innovative treats are for now only being sold in-store at a London branch of British pet supplies chain Pets at Home.

A Leap Forward in Pet Nutrition?

The collaboration between Meatly and The Pack aims to provide a nutritious and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional dog treats by combining The Pack’s plant-based ingredients with Meatly’s cultivated chicken — offering a product rich in essential amino acids, critical fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins.

Owen Ensor, the founding CEO of Meatly, naturally expressed enthusiasm about the launch.

“We’re incredibly excited to introduce cultivated meat to the pet world,” he said. “Just two years ago, this felt like a moonshot. Today we take off. It’s a giant leap forward — toward a significant market for meat which is healthy, sustainable, and kind to our planet and other animals.”

The Lab-Grown Meat Production Process

Meatly’s approach to cultivated meat involves extracting a single sample of cells from a chicken egg, which can then proliferate to produce an indefinite supply of meat without the need to raise or slaughter animals. This method not only addresses ethical concerns but also significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional meat production.

The U.K. has been at the forefront of regulatory approval for lab-grown meat in pet food, becoming the first European country to authorize its sale in July 2024. This approval, granted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), allowing innovative products like Chick Bites to enter the market.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has paved the way for lab-grown meat products in the U.S., finding the process and product at UPSIDE Foods to be safe in 2022.

Addressing Environmental Concerns

The pet food industry has a substantial environmental footprint, with research indicating that it contributes significantly to global carbon emissions and meat consumption. A study highlighted that the industry’s climate impact is comparable to that of the Philippines, the 13th most populous country in the world.

By introducing lab-grown meat into pet food, companies like Meatly and The Pack aim to mitigate these environmental impacts. Cultivated meat production requires fewer resources, such as land and water, and results in lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional livestock farming. This innovation potentially offers a sustainable solution for environmentally conscious pet owners. However, it’s currently expensive to produce and mass-market products are years away.

Market Potential and Future Expansion

The premium pet food market has seen a growing demand for high-quality, ethically produced products. While the initial release is limited to a single store in London, Meatly has ambitious plans to scale production and expand availability over the next three to five years.

This expansion will involve further collaborations with The Pack and Pets at Home, as well as efforts to reduce production costs to make cultivated meat products more accessible to a broader consumer base.

Damien Clarkson, CEO and Co-Founder of The Pack, emphasized the significance of this development.

“The launch of our Chick Bites treats is a watershed moment for the pet food industry,” he said. “Cultivated meat offers a tasty, low-carbon, and healthy protein source for our pets, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this revolution.”

Consumer Reception and Industry Implications

The introduction of lab-grown meat in pet food will change consumer perceptions, spark debate and influence purchasing decisions.

As awareness of environmental and ethical issues related to meat production grows, pet owners are increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives. The success of Chick Bites could trigger a broader acceptance and integration of cultivated meat in both pet and human food markets.

However, challenges remain, including scaling production to meet potential demand and reducing costs to make lab-grown meat products competitive with traditional options. Additionally, openness, evidence and consumer education will be crucial in addressing any concerns or misconceptions about the safety and benefits of cultivated meat.

Dog Food Advisor’s Opinion

This is without doubt a notable moment in pet food production. Dog parents shouldn’t ignore the environmental impact of pet food production — pets are estimated to eat 20% of the world’s meat and fish. Not all of that is offal and other animal parts humans don’t like to eat. As populations of both pets and humans grow, so will the impact.

It’s a problem that doesn’t yet have a clear solution (people aren’t going to stop having pets), so any ideas or advances in science and technology that might help should be viewed with an open mind.

However, while people in the food industry and the scientific community have few, if any, doubts about the safety and nutritional benefits of lab-grown meat, many pet parents will need a mountain of positive evidence before feeding it to their dogs. This skepticism is natural — it occurs with anything new or different.

That said, a clean, healthy, sustainable and affordable source of protein — possibly of a higher quality than the meat currently found in some dog foods — will appeal to a large number of people.

It’s certainly going to be an interesting few years and we’ll keep you up to date with any developments.