The cultivated fat submission is the first step away from a full cultivated beef product, the company suggests.
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The Dutch cultivated meat producer is seeking EU regulatory approval for its cultivated beef fat.
Dutch cultivated meat company Mosa Meat announced it’s submitted an application to the European Commission for regulatory approval of its cultivated beef fat product. The EU’s novel food framework, because of its rigorous nature, is often considered the gold standard.
The submitted dossier is the work of 10 Mosa Meat employees over the course of two years, and includes nearly 1,000 pages, according to Mosa Meat. The submission also required the processing of 450 samples.
This submission comes after French company Gourmey became the first to apply for regulatory approval in the EU with its cultivated foie gras product. However, Mosa Meat’s application, as the company points out, is the EU’s first cultivated beef submission.
Why cultivated fat?
The company chose to submit an application for cultivated beef fat because, it explains, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), unlike other regulatory bodies such as that in Singapore, assesses each ingredient rather than the product as a whole.
Cultivated fat, which is key to flavour, aroma and mouthfeel, is the first step, the company suggests, to a full cultivated beef product, such as a cultivated burger.
“By starting with cultivated fat, we’re paving the way to introduce our first burgers to consumers while staying true to our long-term vision. Mosa Meat remains committed to building a more diverse and resilient food system — one that satisfies global demand while being kind to the planet,” said Mosa Meat CEO Maarten Bosch.
The EFSA’s risk assessment of the product is expected to take around 18 months.
Origins
The Maastricht-based company was co-founded by cultivated meat pioneer Mark Post, who developed the first cultivated burger. He is now its CSO.
