Lab-grown foods, including cultured meat and alternative sweeteners, could be available for human consumption in the UK within the next two years, as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) accelerates its approval process. The FSA is collaborating with high-tech food firms and academic researchers to design a regulatory framework that maintains high safety standards while reducing the bureaucratic delays that have hampered innovation.
UK companies, which have led scientific advancements in this field, have long complained that the current approval procedures are slower than those in countries such as Singapore, the US, and Israel. For instance, a lab-grown Wagyu steak is already produced but cannot be sold until it receives the necessary approvals. Similarly, firms like Ivy Farm Technologies in Oxford, which produce cultured meat from cells, are eager for faster access to the market.
The government insists that this is not a case of deregulation but rather “pro-innovation regulation” aimed at aligning rules with technological advances. However, critics such as Pat Thomas from Beyond GM argue that involving companies in drafting the rules could create conflicts of interest, potentially lowering safety standards. Moreover, concerns persist that lab-grown foods, often considered ultra-processed, might not deliver the touted health and environmental benefits.
The push to streamline the approval process is seen as critical not only for boosting the domestic food technology sector and creating new jobs but also for maintaining the UK's competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global market.
