February 7, 2025 — Lab-grown meat pet treats are now on sale in the UK. This may soon lead to the treats being sold in the US.
Meatly, a London-based company, has launched Chick Bites. These treats combine cultivated chicken with plant-based ingredients. The "no kill" meat comes from cells grown in a lab. The cells came from one chicken egg. No animals suffered in the course of this process.
Pets at Home, a UK retailer, is selling the treats. They claim it's a world first. The UK approved cultivated meat for pet food last summer. They are the first in Europe.
Chick Bites have the same nutrients as real chicken. This includes amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Meatly says it tastes as good as chicken.
The company wants to make pet food more sustainable. Lab-grown meat uses less land and water. It also cuts carbon emissions. If renewable energy is used, greenhouse gases could drop by 92%.
BioCraft Pet Nutrition, an Austrian company, is developing cultivated mouse meat for pets. They plan to launch their pet food in early 2026.
Meatly plans to expand production in the next three to five years. They want to make cultivated pet food more widely available.
Veterinary science professor Andrew Knight noted that pets consume about 20% of the meat in high pet ownership countries. He said focusing on pet diets could significantly cut the carbon footprint.
For now, Chick Bites cost £3.49 (about $4.35) per pack.
