63 percent of people in Austria are in favor of approving so-called laboratory meat, provided it has been found to be safe. This is shown by an online survey published on Wednesday by YouGov on behalf of the think tank Good Food Institute Europe. In general, there is great interest in more “sustainable” diets: 59 percent think that too many animal products are consumed. 47 percent would like alternatives to meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.
30 percent of the 1,000 respondents said that they wanted to consume more plant-based meat alternatives in the next two years, and 28 percent wanted to consume more plant-based milk alternatives. 60 percent believe that “politicians must end the discrimination once morest plant-based milk alternatives when it comes to VAT.”
Picture: OÖNGrafik, APA
“Cultivated Meat”
59 percent reported that they had heard of meat produced in a laboratory. 42 percent would try “lab meat” at least once. More than half of those under 35 and flexitarians – so-called flexible vegetarians who reject mass-produced meat – said this. 66 percent think that “cultivated meat” should also be produced in Austria when it comes onto the market so that the local economy can benefit. “This position is shared across all voter groups,” the survey report said.
“Cultivated meat must go through a thorough, multi-stage approval process before entering the European market,” said Ivo Rzegotta, senior public affairs manager at the Good Food Institute Europe. The results show “that Austrians don’t want ideologically charged debates, but rather that they want to leave it up to people whether they eat cultivated meat or not.”
Stem cells necessary
Producing “lab meat” requires stem cells obtained from the muscle tissue of a living animal. In the laboratory, the cells are enriched in a container with a nutrient solution. In order to multiply them, a so-called growth serum is also necessary. The technologies commonly used to date have involved blood taken from calf fetuses. Both the fetus and the mother die during extraction. However, research is already underway using methods that do not require this fetal calf serum.
When enough cells have grown, the final product is formed using a meat grinder or a 3D printer. This then creates burger patties or nuggets. Last July, Italy was the first country in the EU to vote to ban foods made from cell cultures. This sparked debate in Europe.
The survey suggests that there is also interest in changing consumption habits in Austria beyond “laboratory meat”: “46 percent of those surveyed say that they want to consume less animal products in the next two years.” This is primarily regarding plant-based options for meat or dairy products. 53 percent hope that farmers will be supported in switching to a higher proportion of plant-based foods. 50 percent want to see the proportion of plant-based products increased in public canteens, for example in schools and hospitals.
