In a groundbreaking milestone for the pet food industry, a UK pet retailer has begun selling dog treats made from lab-grown chicken, marking what is believed to be a world-first achievement. The innovative product, developed by a company called Meatly, combines plant-based ingredients with cultivated meat. This cultivated meat is created by growing cells from a single sample taken from a chicken egg, avoiding the need to raise or slaughter animals. The treats, named Chick Bites, are designed to provide all the essential nutrients pets need, including amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. According to Meatly, these treats are not only nutritious but also just as tasty as traditional chicken breast, making them an appealing option for pet owners.
Pets at Home, the retailer behind this innovation, believes it is the first company in the world to sell cultivated meat for pet food. This breakthrough represents a significant step toward creating sustainable and ethical food options for pets. Owen Ensor, the founding CEO of Meatly, described this development as a “giant leap forward” toward a healthier, more sustainable, and compassionate food market. While Meatly is leading the way, it’s not the only company exploring this space. Rivals like the Austrian-American startup BioCraft are also working on cultivated meat products, such as mouse meat for dogs and cats, signaling a growing demand for sustainable pet food.
One of the biggest challenges in producing cultivated meat has been the high cost and complexity of the process, which has slowed down getting these products to market. However, in May 2024, BioCraft announced that it had successfully reduced production costs and plans to launch its pet food products by early 2026. Meanwhile, U.S.-based Hill’s Pet Nutrition has also been working on cultivated meat solutions, collaborating with Bond Pet Foods to develop and test new products. These advancements highlight the growing interest in alternative proteins as the pet food industry moves away from traditional livestock farming, which is increasingly linked to environmental concerns such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and water pollution.
Researchers have spent years exploring alternatives to animal proteins derived from conventional farming, and cultivated meat is emerging as a promising solution. In August 2024, the UK’s innovation agency, UKRI, provided £15 million in funding to the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC) to investigate the health benefits and risks of alternative proteins, as well as consumer acceptance. A 2022 survey published in the PLOS ONE journal shed light on public attitudes toward cultivated meat. While only 32.5% of respondents said they would eat cultivated meat themselves, nearly half (47.3%) were open to feeding it to their pets. This reflects a growing willingness among pet owners to embrace sustainable and ethical food options for their animals, even if they are not ready to adopt them for themselves.
In July 2024, UK regulators made history by becoming the first in Europe to approve Meatly’s cultivated meat for use in pet food, paving the way for the launch of Chick Bites. Meatly has undergone rigorous safety testing to ensure its products are free from bacteria, viruses, GMOs, antibiotics, and other harmful substances. The company emphasizes that its cultivated chicken is not only safe and nutritious but also produced without the environmental footprint associated with traditional livestock farming. These treats are being sold under the plant-based dog food brand THE PACK and are initially available at a Pets at Home branch in Brentford, London, starting from February 7.
Anja Madsen, CEO of Pets at Home, called this innovation a “game-changer for the industry,” highlighting its potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet food. As more companies like Meatly, BioCraft, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition continue to develop cultivated meat products, the pet food industry is poised for a transformation. This shift not only addresses the ethical and environmental concerns tied to conventional animal farming but also meets the growing demand from pet owners for sustainable and healthier options. While the market for cultivated meat is still in its early stages, the launch of Chick Bites marks an exciting beginning for a future where pet food is kinder to the planet and its animals.
