NEWS 8 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition October 2023 Islamic scholars: Cultivated meat can be halal if production meets certain criteria GOOD Meat, the cultivated meat division of food technology company Eat Just, Inc., announced that a group of leading Islamic scholars has advised the firm that real meat made from cells, without raising and slaughtering animals, can be halal if production meets certain criteria. Answering this theological question is a meaningful step forward for international acceptance of cultivated meat since halal consumers represent about 25% of the world’s population, according to the company. This landmark Shariah opinion from a trio of well-respected scholars in Saudi Arabia comes as cultivated meat begins to enter commerce in the United States and consumers around the world are learning how meat made in this new way can help address global food systems challenges connected to climate change, food safety, food security and animal welfare. With the Muslim population rapidly increasing, so too is their meat consumption. The global halal meat market was a US$202 billion business in 2021 and is estimated to reach US$375.05 billion by 2030, according to some estimates. The Shariah scholars reviewed documentation prepared by GOOD Meat and attorneys at AlDhabaan & Partners in association with Eversheds Sutherland that described how cultivated chicken, the company’s first product, is made. The panel studied details about how the cells are sourced and selected, the ingredients fed to the cells to stimulate growth, how the cells are harvested, and how finished products are manufactured. Read more>> Andritz opens test center for the food and feed industry International technology group Andritz opened a leading-edge test and research center for the food and feed industry in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands. The Food Innovation Xperience center will be the development and technology hub where customers and Andritz’s experts team up to turn visions into reality. The test center is equipped with the latest milling, extraction, dewatering, and drying technologies from Andritz, enabling customers to conduct feasibility studies, and pilot plant tests for scale-up or R&D activities under food-grade or even ATEX conditions. Covering a total area of 850 m2, the center is available to customers in the food and feed industry as well as to research and development organizations. Developing new, sustainable food ingredients and food manufacturing processes has become particularly important today as food and feed manufacturers must respond to the fast-changing market and consumer demands, governmental regulations, and environmental requirements. “In this context, it is essential to act quickly and scale-up new ideas, make existing production processes more efficient, and reduce operations’ environmental impact, like freshwater consumption or CO2 footprint,” explains Marco Buis, Managing Director at Andritz Gouda B.V. “Our Food Innovation Xperience center offers customers the opportunity to determine the best possible manufacturing process for their need, building on latest technologies and line solutions as well as expert support from Andritz.” Read more>>
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