Research conducted in Germany and Austria has revealed that nearly two-thirds of people believe consumers should be entitled to choose whether to consume cell-based meat once it receives approval.

The surveys, commissioned by the Good Food Institute Europe and carried out by market research company YouGov, indicate that 65% of Germans and 63% of Austrians support allowing the sale of cell-based meat, once it is considered safe and nutritious by food safety regulators.

Moreover, 66% of Germans and Austrians approve of the domestic production of cell-based meat within their countries to benefit their national economies. The study showed that the majority of individuals across all political affiliations in both countries support this position.

The survey, which polled 2,105 people in Germany and 1,026 in Austria, also found that 53% of Germans and 59% of Austrians were aware of cell-based meat, with 47% and 42%, respectively, willing to try it.

Meanwhile, nearly half of respondents in both countries supported alternatives to meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. 46% in both nations aimed to reduce animal product consumption in the next two years, with 30% interested in consuming more plant-based meat.

Additionally, 53% in both countries wanted government support for farmers transitioning to plant-based foods, while 47% of Germans and 44% of Austrians supported government research into animal product replacements.

Seth Roberts, policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said: “Cultivated meat must go through one of the world’s most robust food regulatory processes before it will be available in the EU. Once it’s been approved, Germans and Austrians believe it should be up to consumers themselves to decide whether or not to eat cultivated meat. 

“In the wake of the Italian ban, policymakers should note that people who responded to this survey – regardless of their political views – are increasingly aware of the economic opportunities offered by cultivated meat and are more interested in consumer choice than ideological debates.”

#Germany #Austria