Leading Islamic scholars declare cultured meat halal under certain conditions

Cultured meat is produced from cells without slaughtering animals in the conventional way

SAN FRANCISCO, California – A cultured meat company has claimed that some leading Islamic scholars have suggested that cultured meat can be considered halal under certain conditions.

Cultured meat is produced from cells without slaughtering animals in the conventional way.

This religious ruling paves the way for the global recognition of cultured meat, as about 25% of the world’s population are halal consumers.

GOOD Meat, the cultured meat division of food technology company Eat Just, Inc. claims to have received the decree from scholars in Saudi Arabia.

The decision coincides with the introduction of cultured meat to the U.S. market.

The growing awareness of this novel meat production method aims to address global concerns about climate change, food safety and animal welfare.

Given the rapid increase in the Muslim population and their meat consumption, the global halal meat industry, estimated at $202 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $375.05 billion by 2030.

In their assessment, the researchers reviewed documentation from GOOD Meat and its legal partners that outlined the production process of its first product.

The study included the sourcing and selection of cells, the nutrition of those cells, the harvesting process, and the production of the final product.

Recent surveys show that most consumers in major Middle Eastern countries would accept cultured meat if it met halal standards.

Scholars consulted by the food company include Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manea, Professor Abdullah al-Mutlaq and Professor Saad Al-Shathry.