Would you like cheese on that? Synthetic meat gets kosher approval from Israeli Chief Rabbi

A cutting-edge company near Tel Aviv has become the first cultivated meat firm in Israel to receive a kosher ruling.

Israeli Chief Rabbi, David Baruch Lau, announced that under religious law, the steak produced by Rehovot-based firm Aleph Farms, grown directly from non-genetically engineered animal cells, may officially be eaten by Jews.

The ruling suggests that upon official market launch in Israel, expected in the near future, local authorities will confirm Aleph Farms cultivated steaks are kosher, enabling Jew who observe kashrut to incorporate them into their diets.

Products are produced from starter cells from a fertilised egg, sourced from a premium Black Angus cow named Lucy who lives on a breeding farm in California.

From a one-time collection of Lucy’s fertilised egg, Aleph Farms then grows thousands of tonnes of cultivated meat without engineering cells. The innovative process avoids any animal slaughter and encourages greater sustainability within the industry.

Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms believes the decision is significant for the cultivated meat business as a whole. He said it “sets a foundation for an inclusive public discourse about the intersection of tradition and innovation in our society.”

Established in 2017 Aleph Farms is also in contact with Muslim, Hindu and other religious authorities to certify its products as a viable and alternative dietary option.

For more information, visit www.aleph-farms.com