KFC to Make Lab-Produced Chicken Nuggets

Famous fried chicken brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) announced its plans to produce chicken nuggets in laboratories. In line with its goal of creating a “restaurant of the future,” KFC is undertaking an innovative project to produce meat through 3D bioprinting technology. The restaurant chain has partnered with Russian research laboratory 3D Bioprinting Solutions to develop the technology and is aiming to test the final product in Moscow by this fall. According to KFC’s press release, the company’s latest endeavor was prompted by healthy lifestyle trends, increasing demand for meat alternatives, and the need to come up with eco-friendly food production methods. KFC’s lab-produced meat will be made with chicken cells and plant material. Using these ingredients, the company can maintain the quality of traditional chicken meat without the need to slaughter chickens. KFC will also provide the laboratory with ingredients like breading and spices to ensure that the cell-based meat will taste like the fast-food chain's original chicken. According to KFC, the production of bioprinted meat is more eco-friendly than that of regular meat, as it does not involve the use of additives that are present in livestock farming. The bioprinting process also makes use of less energy than traditional methods, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This method is also considered more ethical than the usual food production process because it replicates meat without harming animals. Raisa Polyakova, general manager of KFC Russia, said the fast-food chain is working to make bioprinted chicken meat available to customers not only in Russia but also in other parts of the world.