Israel's Chief Rabbi declares cultured meat kosher, opening doors for kosher consumers

In a historic move, Israel's chief rabbi Rabbi David Lau has ruled that cultured meat, also known as lab-grown meat, is kosher fur, similar to any plant product.

By Milo Runkle

This decision, which was made in response to a request sent to Rabbi Lau regarding the production of cultured meat, its kosherness, and its halachic definition, marks a significant step forward for the industry.

Before issuing his opinion, Rabbi Lau took the time to thoroughly examine the cultured meat production process by touring a factory in Rehovot, hearing from the factory's management about the production procedures, and examining them himself.

In his halachic opinion, Rabbi Lau emphasized that his decision was based on the specific method of producing cultured meat from stem cells, which are produced by washing embryos, isolating stem cells from them, and planting and feeding them in a "vegetable" medium. This method of production, he stated, does not involve the use of meat from existing animals, making it halachically permissible.

This ruling is a huge win for the cultured meat industry, as it opens up a new market for kosher consumers. It is also a significant step forward in addressing the ethical and environmental concerns associated with traditional meat production.

The production of cultured meat has been a topic of debate in recent years, with many questioning its halachic definition and kosher status. But with this ruling, Rabbi Lau has provided a clear and decisive halachic decision on the matter, opening up new possibilities for the future of food production.