As reported by FoodIngredientsFirst, the Dutch pioneer of food technology and cultured meat, Meatable, has reached a milestone in the industry by hosting the first legally approved cultured meat tasting event in the EU.

A Crucial Step

According to the company, the event marks a crucial step in the commercialization of cultured meat. The tasting event, held at Meatable's headquarters in Leiden, the Netherlands, required the company to obtain approval from an independent expert committee sanctioned by the Dutch government. The approval was based on Meatable's dossier detailing the safety data of cultured meat products.

"We are incredibly proud to host the first official cultured meat tasting in the EU, marking a milestone moment for Meatable and our industry," says Krijn de Nood, the company's founder and CEO.

"At Meatable, we have worked tirelessly over the past five years to develop a delicious product that looks, tastes, and has the same texture and flavor profile as farm-grown meat."

"Now we have the opportunity to validate these findings and further optimize our product before entering the mass market. I want to thank our guests for supporting the product and contributing to our mission of satisfying the world's appetite for real meat without harming people, animals, or the planet."

Cultivating Gastronomy

The Netherlands is the first EU country to allow tastings of cultured meat. Other countries include Israel, Singapore, and the USA.

Among the participants were Dutch Prince Constantijn van Oranje - special envoy for Techleap, Michelin-starred chef Ron Blaauw, and entrepreneur Ira van Eelen, whose father Willem van Eelen is a pioneer in cultured meat technology.

The company says that participants highlight the importance of the event and the growing interest in cultured meat as a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional meat production.

"The Netherlands is a pioneer in the development of cultured meat, and it has been an honor to join Meatable's leader for their first European tasting event," says Prince van Oranje. "Meatable's cultured meat has great potential to reduce the impact of the food industry on the environment, and I look forward to continuing to support the company as it works towards this goal in the path to commercialization."

Food for the Future

Meatable's proprietary Opti-OX technology allows the company to transform a single cell from a pig into cultured sausage in just four days - which it recently stated will take up to eight days. The process is 60 times faster than traditional farming methods.

By streamlining cellular differentiation and production processes, Meatable aims to offer high-quality cultured meat products at competitive prices while minimizing environmental impact.

Looking ahead, Meatable says it intends to launch its first products in Singapore, where it has already conducted several tastings following approval from the Singapore Food Agency. Pending regulatory authorization, its products will be available in selected restaurants, marking its entry into the Asian market.

Additionally, the company is gearing up for expansion in the USA, targeting a launch by 2025, pending regulatory approvals. As demand for sustainable and ethical food options continues to grow, Meatable says it is ready to lead the way in revolutionizing the future of food through its innovative approach to cultured meat production.

"This is a huge step for the sector," notes Ira van Eelen. "Before cultured meat companies can submit their dossier to the relevant authorities, it is essential that their product can be tasted first – this way, valuable feedback can be collected for further product development."

"The fact that this is now possible even in the Netherlands, without the need to resort to other countries, is unique."