Dutch food-tech company Meatable has become the first to hold an approved cell-based meat tasting in the European Union.

Following approval from the independent Expert Committee sanctioned by the Dutch government on its dossier including extensive product safety data, Meatable welcomed a number of guests to its new headquarters in Leiden, the Netherlands, to taste its cell-based pork sausages.

Among those who participated in the tasting were Michelin starred chef Ron Blaauw, Constantijn van Oranje, Prince of the Netherlands and Special Envoy, Techleap; and entrepreneur Ira van Eelen, whose father Willem van Eelen is considered the founder of cell-based meat.

Tastings are essential to gain valuable feedback to inform product optimisation on the road to regulatory approval and commercialisation.

Krijn de Nood, founder and CEO of Meatable, said: “We are incredibly proud to hold the first official cultivated meat tasting in the European Union, marking a landmark moment for Meatable and our industry. At Meatable, we have been working tirelessly over the last five years to develop a delicious product that looks like, tastes like and has the same texture and flavour profile as farm raised meat.”

He continued: “We now have the opportunity to verify those findings and further optimise our product before mass market entry. I want to thank our guests for supporting the product and contributing to our mission to satisfy the world’s appetite for real meat without harming people, animals or the planet. We look forward to hosting many more tastings in the future as we work towards regulatory approval and global commercialisation.”

Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy, Techleap, commented: “The Netherlands is a pioneer in the development of cultivated meat, and it was an honour to join the frontrunner in the field Meatable for the first European tasting of their products. Meatable’s cultivated meat has great potential to reduce the food industry’s impact on the environment, and I look forward to continuing to support the company as they work towards this goal on a path to commercialisation.”

Ira van Eelen concluded: "This is a huge step for the sector. Before cultured meat companies can submit their dossier to the relevant authorities it is essential that their product can first be tasted. This way, valuable feedback can be collected for further product development. The fact that this is now possible in the Netherlands itself, without having to resort to other countries, is unique. I have already attended several tastings in other countries and have to say I found Meatable's sausage to be remarkably delicious!"

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