3D printed synthetic fish: the novelty from Israel

After the milk and the meat now comes the synthetic fish. An Israeli food technology company, la Steakholder Foodswhich announced the production of a grouper fillet obtained without the need to fish the animal but simply cultivating the cells in the laboratory. The technology of synthetic food is making great strides now involving various food sectors.

Synthetic fish: what it is and how it is produced

As with other similar products, the synthetic fish also comes from cell multiplication induced in the laboratory. The starting cells are taken from the animal and subsequently made to multiply thanks to cultivation techniques o cell replication thanks to a substrate of suitable chemicals.

The cell mass obtained, in this case of fish, serves as the basis for the 3D food printing which gives to the finished product the shape e the texture desired to make it as similar as possible to the original. It would be virtually indistinguishable from the latter once the synthetic fish is cooked.

The challenges of fish in the laboratory

Compared to the advances in technology in the field of cellular meat, the research and production of synthetic fish is stayed behind in terms of development. According to the technicians of Steakholder Foods in fact stem cells from cattle and chickens have been extensively studied but, again little is known than those of fish.

This deficiency has forced the researchers to further work to find out which nutrients are suitable for the growth of fish cells. At the moment, the company is able to “print” groupers and eels but he plans to add other species of potentially endangered fishthus potentially providing the ability to disrupt their fishing.

Price of synthetic fish? Still too high

The price of meat and other synthetic foods is in constant decrease and, according to estimates, already dal 2030 the price of lab-grown meat could match that of traditional meat on supermarket shelves. For synthetic fish, the path could be slower given the unique challenges that the sector presents.

At the moment, therefore, the Steakholder Foods it is combining cultured cells with vegetable ingredients to lower costs and offer an affordable product. The company has entered into partnership with Umami Meats based in Singapore to bring the first 3D printed synthetic fish products to market already on the go since the end of 2023 starting from the Asian state and aiming primarily at the markets of Japan and the United States.