Aleph Farms, a company specializing in cultivated meat based in Rehovot, Israel, recently announced a significant milestone. In December, it became the first in the country to receive a “No Questions” letter from the Ministry of Health, indicating regulatory approval for its cultivated beef product, Aleph Cuts. This letter signifies that the cultivated beef is deemed safe for consumption, granting Aleph Farms the authorization to produce and market its product. However, the Ministry of Health still needs to conduct a Good Manufacturing Practices audit of Aleph’s production facility to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
According to Aleph Farms, this approval marks a historic moment as the first-ever for non-chicken cultivated meat globally. It is also the inaugural approval for cultivated meat in the Middle East, where addressing food insecurity and climate change is integral to regional collaboration.
The initial offering of Aleph Cuts, named “Petit Steak,” will be introduced in select Israeli restaurants. This thin-cut cultivated steak is crafted from non-modified, non-immortalized cells sourced from a premium Black Angus cow, along with a plant protein matrix composed of soy and wheat. The production process excludes animal-derived ingredients and antibiotics, except for starter cells derived from a fertilized egg.
Ziva Hamama, the director of the food risk management department at Israel’s Ministry of Health, emphasized the significance of this regulatory approval, positioning Israel as a global leader in the emerging field of bovine cell-based food. The approval reflects a thorough assessment of various factors, including toxicology, allergens, nutritional composition, microbiological safety, and chemical safety throughout the entire production process. Aleph Farms has already submitted an approval dossier in Switzerland and is actively collaborating with regulators in other markets.
