The world's first lab-grown burger was cooked and eaten at a news conference in London. Scientists from Maastricht University in the Netherlands took cells from a cow and turned them into strips of muscle, which were combined to form a patty.
Food critics who tasted the burger gave mixed reviews. Austrian researcher Hanni Ruetzler said it was "close to meat, but not that juicy," while American writer Josh Schonwald remarked, "The mouthfeel is like meat. I miss the fat, but the general bite feels like a hamburger."
The project, costing £215,000 ($330,000), was funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Professor Mark Post, the scientist behind the burger, said, "It's a very good start," but added that it would take a while before lab-grown burgers reach the market.
Proponents argue the technology could meet growing meat demand sustainably. However, Professor Tara Garnett of Oxford University noted that 1.4 billion people are overweight while one billion go hungry, suggesting solutions should focus on supply systems and affordability rather than just producing more food.
