Brits Can Now Buy Cultivated Chicken for Their Dogs 

5 Mins ReadBritish pet owners can now buy cultivated chicken for their furry friends, in what is a global first for the alternative protein industry.Starting February 7, leading pet retailer Pets at Home’s Brentford store will stock dog treats made from a blend of Meatly’s cultivated chicken and plant-based ingredients from The Pack.Called Chick Bites, the oven-baked treats come in 50g pouches and cost £3.49, and the limited run means around 750 units will be available initially.The launch has been eagerly anticipated ever since Meatly received approval from UK regulators to sell its cultivated meat for pets last July. The startup had revealed last year that it would enter the market through Pets at Home – one of Meatly’s largest investors – while vegan pet food maker The Pack had hinted at a move into cultivated meat months earlier.Courtesy: Meatly/Pets at HomeMeatly’s innovation is derived from a single sample of chicken cells, which – combined with its technology – can produce enough meat “to feed pets forever”, according to the food tech startup. The cells are fed on a mix of nutrients that facilitate their growth, and nurtured in a container that controls temperature and acidity.The resulting cultivated chicken breast contains all essential amino acids, critical fatty acids, vitamins and minerals needed for pet health, while being more sustainable and just as palatable.Feeding trials carried out by the company have shown that half of the dogs who ate its meat continued to lick the bowl after finishing it, and three-quarters of pet owners reported higher enjoyment than their dogs’ baseline diet.“Just two years ago, this felt like a moonshot. Today, we take off,” Meatly co-founder and CEO Owen Ensor said of the launch. “It’s a giant leap forward – toward a significant market for meat, which is healthy, sustainable and kind to our planet and other animals.”Pets at Home, which is the UK’s largest pet retailer with over 450 stores, said its investment in Meatly demonstrates its commitment to the planet. “We’re always looking to the future of pet care, and to make sure we’re developing and providing the products that matter to our customers,” said COO Anja Madsen Madsen.Courtesy: Meatly/Pets at Home“This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet food and will be a game-changer for the industry,” Madsen added.Meatly – which has signed up to the newly released C-Label certification – has previously cited research suggesting that pets account for 22% of the UK’s meat consumption, which is more than what British children eat every year. Meanwhile, labradors – the most popular pet dogs in the country – consume 70 million kg of meat annually, nearly 60% more than their owners.Cultivated chicken presents consumers with a more planet-friendly option to feed their four-legged friends. Global polling has shown that 51% of consumers have switched brands or