The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Start-up files request to sell lab-grown steak in Switzerland

gloved hands working in a lab with small pieces of steak on a petri dish
Aleph Farms isn’t the only pioneer: Swiss start-up Mirai Foods is also working on lab-grown beef steak (picture). Awp/keystone/gaetan Bally

An Israeli start-up firm has submitted an application to sell cultured – i.e. lab-grown – meat in Switzerland. It’s the first such application in Europe.

The Aleph Farms start-up announced the application to the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) on Wednesday.

The plan is to sell the “world’s first cultivated beef steaks under the branding of Aleph Cuts” in cooperation with Swiss retail giant Migros, an investor in Aleph Farms since 2019, the Israeli firm said.

+ Read more: is cultured meat coming soon to Switzerland?

Aleph Farms describes itself as a “cellular agriculture company” whose goal is to “grow quality animal products that improve sustainability, food security, and animal welfare in our food systems”.

Its investors include, among others, actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Cultivated or cultured meat is made by using tissue engineering techniques to culture animal cells in vitro (in a lab setting), removing the need to keep and slaughter living animals.

If Swiss authorities approve the application, it would be a first in Europe. A spokesman for Migros said however that the product would initially be available in upscale restaurants; it’s unlikely to be seen in supermarkets before 2030.

Similar requests have been made in Asia and the United States. The FSVO said the authorisation procedure would take at least several months.

+ How landlocked Switzerland is diving into the alt-seafood market

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

A live scarecrow competition to thrill Denens (VD)

More

Live scarecrow competition set to thrill Swiss

This content was published on The Fête de l'Epouvantail (scarecrow festival) is celebrating its 30th anniversary and returns to Denens in canton Vaud for its seventh edition from July 10-20.

Read more: Live scarecrow competition set to thrill Swiss
Man dies in accident on toboggan run in Matten near Interlaken BE

More

Man dies on Swiss toboggan run

This content was published on A 35-year-old man has died in a work accident at the valley station of the Heimwehfluh toboggan run in Matten near Interlaken, canton Bern.

Read more: Man dies on Swiss toboggan run
The Swiss embassy in Tehran reopens

More

Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opens

This content was published on The Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opened on Sunday after being closed on June 20 owing to the unstable situation in the country.

Read more: Swiss embassy in Tehran re-opens
Queen of the Netherlands attends European Championship match in Lucerne

More

Euro 2025: Dutch queen cheers on team in Lucerne

This content was published on Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and her youngest daughter Princess Ariane attended the Netherlands' women's European Championship football match against Wales in Switzerland on Saturday.

Read more: Euro 2025: Dutch queen cheers on team in Lucerne
30-year-old charged with drone flight at Women's European Championships

More

Man charged with flying drone at women’s Euro 2025

This content was published on A man flew a drone around the venue on Wednesday evening during the first match of the Women's EURO 2025 in St. Gallen. The 30-year-old violated the absolute ban on flying during match days. He was reported to the police.

Read more: Man charged with flying drone at women’s Euro 2025
257 Swiss companies are members of the SBTi

More

More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative

This content was published on A total of 257 companies from Switzerland have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In doing so, they are committing to CO2 reduction targets that are compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Read more: More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR