What is the process for making lab-grown meat for pet food?

The article is in two parts.

• First part: an infographic summarising the process.
• Second part: a wider more expansive section on making pet food from lab-grown meat.

Infographic

As you can see this is a process to mak wet cat food. I would expect that in due course the manufacturers would also make dry cat food from lab-grown meat.

AI summary of making lab-grown meat for pet food

The process of creating lab-grown meat for pet food involves scientific techniques that allow us to produce meat without raising and killing animals. Here’s how it works:

1. Cell Harvesting:
   • Cells are painlessly harvested from a live animal (such as a mouse) while it is under anesthesia.
   • These cells are usually taken from specific tissues (such as muscle cells) that contain the desired proteins.
2. Genetic Code Extraction:
   • The genetic code from the harvested cells is extracted.
   • This genetic information contains instructions for protein synthesis.
3. Cell Culture and Fermentation:
   • The extracted genetic code is combined with food-grade yeast (such as nutritional yeast).
   • The mixture is placed in a bioreactor, which is similar to those used for brewing beer or making yogurt.
   • Inside the bioreactor, the cells multiply and grow, producing meat proteins.
   • The resulting product is known as “cell-cultured meat.”
4. Protein Production:
   • The cell-cultured meat proteins are identical to those found in conventionally raised animals.
   • This process avoids the need for raising and slaughtering animals.
   • It is a more sustainable and ethical way to produce meat.
5. Application in Pet Food:
   • The cell-cultured meat can be used to create pet treats and foods.
   • Companies like “Because, Animals” are experimenting with this process to develop lab-grown meat products for pets.

This innovative approach aims to provide a planet-friendly alternative to traditional animal-based pet foods while ensuring that our furry companions receive the necessary nutrients. 🐾🥩

Tast and texture

Taste is easier to create than the required texture. Smell also plays a major role in palatability of the food from the cat and dog’s perspective. This is also relatively easy to introduce into the lab-grown meat.

References:

• ¹How Lab-grown Meat Could Change the Pet Food World
• ²Startup’s Lab-Grown Mouse Meat Cat Treats Could Change the Pet Food World
• ³British dogs to be fed the first 100% lab-grown meat

RELATED: Will lab-grown meat be available for pets in the near future?