Learn about our editorial process Published on December 01, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers.Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print JIRAROJ PRADITCHAROENKUL/Getty Key Takeaways The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently deemed meat that is grown using animal cells as being safe for human consumption.While these alternatives to traditionally-produced animal meats are not yet available for consumers, the FDA’s decision is a key step in the process.Lab-grown options may offer similar nutritional benefits, but a smaller environmental impact compared to conventionally-produced animal protein.While the end result looks like a raw piece of chicken, duck, or other meat you’d get by slaughtering and butchering, it only needed a small number of cells from a still-alive animal to be made.Lab-grown meat comes from muscle cells taken from living animals—therefore, it’s not “meatless” meat like plant-based proteins are.For people who are concerned about animal welfare, cultured meat could be appealing because an animal does not have to be slaughtered to get the cells needed to grow the meat.For example, Melissa Mitri, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and the owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition, told Verywell that “lab-grown meat would likely contain fewer antibiotics and additives,” than meat that’s been conventionally produced."