RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • Newsletter
  • Contact & Route
Members' area
  • Log in
  • Become a member
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • Events
    • OVERVIEW EVENTS
    • EVENT PARTNERSHIPS
  • Advertising
    • PRINT ADVERTISING
    • ONLINE ADVERTISING
  • Members’ area
RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • Newsletter
  • Contact & Route
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • Events
    • OVERVIEW EVENTS
    • EVENT PARTNERSHIPS
  • Advertising
    • PRINT ADVERTISING
    • ONLINE ADVERTISING
  • Members’ area
Members' area
  • Log in
  • Become a member
thumb
Written by Stefan Van Rompaey
In this article
  • Topics Sustainability
  • Geography Europe
Share article
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

First European application to approve cultured meat is a reality – or not?

icon
Food14 September, 2023
Shutterstock.com

(Update) For the first time, a manufacturer is asking the European food authority for the green light to commercialise cultivated meat from bioreactors. However, approval could drag on for years.

German startup

The applicant is German startup The Cultivated B, the cultured meat subsidiary of Infamily Foods, a manufacturer of sustainable meat products and hybrid meat and vegetable products from North Rhine-Westphalia. The producer is seeking the green light to commercialise a product based on cultured meat and plant proteins, similar to a hot dog, reports Lebensmittel Zeitung.

It is the first company in the world to register a cultured meat product with the European Food Safety Authority. As cultured meat falls under the European Union’s Novel Food Regulation, the product has to go through a rigorous approval process that will take at least 18 months and possibly even several years.

The Cultivated B produces bioreactors in Canada and until now positioned itself as a supplier of technology to cultured meat manufacturers, but is now changing its strategy to commercialise cultured meat itself. The move is part of the Infamily Foods group’s sustainable protein strategy.

High expectations

In the United States, two producers already recently obtained authorisation to market cellular meat from bioreactors. Commercialisation of cultured meat has also been authorised in Singapore.

Internationally, expectations for this new product category are high because cultured meat is animal-friendly, clean, safe and sustainable: compared to traditional animal husbandry, production would emit 80% to 90% less greenhouse gases, use 45% less energy, 90% less water and 99% less land. Yet there are still many technological and financial hurdles to overcome before it can reach the market on a large scale. And then it remains to wait for consumer reactions.

Confusion

Update: there seems to be some confusion about the nature of the process The Cultivated B has initiated with food authority EFSA. All regulatory applications to EFSA are publicly listed on their website but so far there is no online record of any submission for any cultured meat company, including The Cultivated B. In its press release, the company speaks of a “pre-submission process” which, however, does not formally exist. It is possible that The Cultivated B only registered to obtain an identifier on the EFSA platform, as many cultured meat companies have done for some time. Contrary to what the company suggests, this does not mean the start of a regulatory process at EFSA.

More about... Food
See more
  • icon
    Food18 July, 2025
    Polish joint venture joins purchasing alliance EMD

    European purchasing alliance European Marketing Distribution (EMD) will be welcoming a number of Polish supermarkets as new members next year. Their new joint venture is runner-up in the Polish market.

  • icon
    Food18 July, 2025
    “Retailers overlook hidden costs of food waste”

    Food waste costs supermarkets worldwide ninety billion euros every year. Halving that cost could increase food retailers’ tight profit margins by more than 20 %, a new report suggests.

  • icon
    Food18 July, 2025
    E.Leclerc seeks to buy 12 French Colruyt supermarkets

    Following Intermarché‘s bid for 81 Colruyt supermarkets in France, local market leader E.Leclerc has also made a concrete offer for twelve supermarkets. The fate of the dozen remaining stores is uncertain.

Events
  • 17
    Sep
    CAPTAINS OF RETAIL 2025 – EDITION II
  • 25
    Sep
    RETAIL MARKETING DAY 2025
Most read
  • icon
    General20 June, 2025
    Fashion and hospitality boost El Corte Inglés’ profits
  • icon
    Food27 June, 2025
    Kaufland reorganizes its marketing department following Lidl’s example
  • icon
    General10 July, 2025
    “New” Pepco reports record revenue after Poundland sale
  • icon
    Fashion4 July, 2025
    New owner for struggling Le Coq Sportif
Follow RetailDetail
  • socialFacebook
  • socialTwitter
  • socialInstagram
  • sociallinkedIn
footer-logo
RetailDetail, the leading b2b-retailcommunity in the Benelux, keeps retail professionals up-to-date by means of online & offline publications, retail events, inspiring retail hunts and the unique co-creation platform The Loop, where retailers and their suppliers can experience the future of shopping.
Mailing Address
Kolveniersstraat 7, bus 26 2000 Antwerp
Visiting address
Stadsfeestzaal – Meir 78 2000 Antwerp
How to reach us:
Directions
© 2025 RetailDetail
general conditions | privacy policy
Contact us About us info@retaildetail.be
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT