TOKYO — Researchers in Japan believe they have produced the largest piece of lab-grown chicken to date, potentially paving the way for cuts of cultivated meat even bigger than chicken-nugget size.

What You Need To Know

  • Researchers in Japan believe they have produced the largest piece of lab-grown chicken to date,

  • The scientists used semipermeable hollow fibers that mimic blood vessels in order to grow the cultured chicken to a bite-sized chunk

  • The research paves the way for whole cuts of meat to be grown in a lab and other applications like transplant and regenerative medicine, the study’s authors contend

The study by scientists at the University of Tokyo, was published in Cell Press journal’s Trends in Biotechnology on Wednesday. 

“Cultured meat offers a sustainable, ethical alternative to conventional meat,” senior author Shoji Takeuchi said in statement, explaining the reasoning behind the research. “However, replicating the texture and taste of whole-cut meat remains difficult.”

In many living animals, circulatory systems bring nutrients and oxygen around their bodies. So the Japanese researchers replicated this by using semipermeable hollow fibers that mimic blood vessels in order to grow the cultured chicken to a bite-sized chunk.

"These fibers are already commonly used in household water filters and dialysis machines for patients with kidney disease," Takeuchi said. "It's exciting to discover that these tiny fibers can also effectively help create artificial tissues and, possibly, whole organs in the future."

The research paves the way for whole cuts of meat to be grown in a lab and other applications such as transplant medicine, the study’s authors contend. 

“Our technology enables the production of structured meat with improved texture and flavor, potentially accelerating its commercial viability," Takeuchi said. "Beyond food, this platform may also impact regenerative medicine and soft robotics."

Dr. Rodrigo Amaro-Ledesma, director of the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London, called the research “a meaningful technical achievement.”

But he noted there may still be a way to go before the lab-grown “nuggets” are available for purchase in stores.  

“In order for cultivated meat products to hit the supermarket shelves in a big way, they need to also be a hit with consumers,” Amaro-Ledesma said.

U.S. regulators previously approved the sale of lab-grown chicken made by two companies in 2023. Another company, Mission Barns, was granted FDA approval for its cultivated pork products earlier this year.