- Scientists have grown meat cells in rice to create an all-in-one ready-to-eat meal
- They claim that the ‘Frankenfood’ is affordable, tasty and environmentally friendly
From casseroles to curries, many of the most popular ready meals include rice and beef.
Now scientists in Korea have managed to grow meat cells in rice grains to create an all-in-one ready-to-eat meal.
They claim the horribly pink ‘Frankenfood’ is affordable, tasty and environmentally friendly.
Sohyeon Park, from Yonsei University, South Korea, said: ‘Imagine getting all the nutrients we need from cell-cultured protein rice. Rice already has a high nutritional level, but adding cells from livestock can increase this even further.
‘We normally get the protein we need from meat, but meat production uses a lot of resources and water and emits a lot of greenhouse gases.’
From casseroles to curries, many of the most popular ready meals include rice and beef. Now scientists in Korea have managed to grow meat cells in rice grains to create an all-in-one ready-to-eat meal
To create Frankenfood, the team first coated the rice with fish gelatin – a safe and edible ingredient that helps cells adhere better to the rice. Cow muscle and fat stem cells were then seeded into the rice and grown in a petri dish for nine to eleven days.
Cultured beef is usually grown from cow cells that are placed in a ‘biological scaffold’ of gelatin or collagen, making it resemble real cuts of meat.
Previous studies have shown that it is possible to create products in a laboratory that roughly look like real steaks and burgers.
In this case, the scientists discovered that porous rice grains, which are full of ‘nooks and crannies’, provided the perfect natural foundation for beef cells to grow.
To create Frankenfood, the team first coated the rice with fish gelatin – a safe and edible ingredient that helps cells adhere better to the rice.
Cow muscle and fat stem cells were then seeded into the rice and grown in a petri dish for nine to eleven days.
The researchers say the end product is mushy pink rice with a firm bite and a creamy, meaty flavor with hints of almond and coconut oil.
Ms Park said: ‘I didn’t expect the cells to grow so well in the rice.
‘Now I see a world of possibilities for this grain-based hybrid feed.
The researchers say the end product is mushy pink rice with a firm bite and a creamy, meaty flavor with hints of almond and coconut oil.
“It could one day serve as famine food aid, military rations or even space food.”
For every 100 grams of protein produced, hybrid rice emits less than 6.27 kg of CO2, while beef emits 49.89 kg.
The hybrid rice could cost around £1.50 per kilo, while beef costs £15.
Global livestock farming is responsible for more than 14 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, almost as much as road transport, aviation and shipping combined.
Prof. Neil Ward, from UK Research and Innovation, described the study as ‘promising’.
He said: ‘While the data on costs and climate impact look very positive, public interest in these types of lab-developed foods is being critically tested.’
Lab-grown meat products cannot yet be legally sold in Britain.
Last year, Israeli company Aleph Farms was the first to apply to the Food Standards Agency for permission to sell farmed steak. No decision has been made yet.