KFC announced this month it is collaborating with Russian cultivated meat business, 3D Bioprinting Solutions, to make nuggets grown directly from cells.
“Crafted meat products are the next step in the development of our restaurant of the future concept,” said Raisa Polyakova, General Manager of KFC Russia & CIS. “Our experiment in testing 3D bioprinting technology to create chicken products can also help address several looming global problems. We are glad to contribute to its development and are working to make it available to thousands of people in Russia and, if possible, around the world.”
On the same day this announcement was made, KFC revealed it is launching the plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken across Southern California. Leading to a response from Good Food Institute Executive Director, Bruce Friedrich, who said the news could ‘inspire a new kind of space race to recreate meat’.
“KFC has rocketed ahead in the race to recreate meat, positioning itself to be the world’s first restaurant chain to bring real chicken grown directly from the cell to consumers,” said Friedrich. “It’s remarkable and inspiring to see KFC-Russia investing in new ways of making meat. The U.S. needs to catch up and we hope it creates something like the space race but focused on growing healthy and sustainable meat from cells in a cost-effective manner and bringing that meat to the world.”
He added: “KFC is the first restaurant brand in the world to cast its lot with cultivated meat, and the chain is all in, promising a cultivated meat prototype this year. This could be the biggest moment for alternative proteins in 2020, especially if KFC-Russia follows through with its plans to host a cultivated meat tasting in the fall as promised and if Beyond Fried Chicken rolls out nationally.”
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