FAQs

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What is cultivated meat?

Cultivated meat is real meat grown from animal cells, without raising and slaughtering animals. It’s made in a clean, controlled environment.

Is cultivated meat the same as “lab-grown meat”?

Yes. “Cultivated”, “cell-based”, “cell-cultured”, and “lab-grown” all mean the same thing.

Is it actually meat?

Yes. It’s made from real animal cells, so it’s real meat, not a plant-based substitute.

How do you make cultivated meat?

We take a tiny sample of animal cells, help them grow by giving them the right nutrients, and the cells multiply into meat. This happens in a bioreactor, which is a special tank built for safe food production.

Do you use FBS (foetal bovine serum)?

No. Magic Valley does not use FBS.

What does AOF mean?

AOF means animal-origin-free. It means the ingredients we use to grow the cells are not taken from animals.

Is your whole process AOF?

Yes. Our process is designed to be AOF from start to finish, including the growth ingredients we use.

If you don’t use FBS, what do you feed the cells?

We use a nutrient mix that is animal-origin-free (AOF).

Do you keep animals?

No. Magic Valley does not keep animals.

Do you have donor animals on-site?

No. We don’t keep or maintain animals for cell sampling.

Are any animals harmed?

No animals are slaughtered to make our meat, and we don’t run an animal farming operation. The goal is real meat without the traditional livestock system.

Do you need to keep taking samples from animals?

No. A small first sample can be used to grow cells over time, so ongoing sampling is not needed.

Does it taste like conventional meat?

Yes, because it’s real meat, it has the same taste and texture people expect.

Is the nutrient profile the same as traditional meat?

It is very similar, because it’s real meat. The exact nutrition depends on the final product, like how different cuts of meat have different fat and protein. When we launch, we’ll share full nutrition panels.

Is it healthy?

It can be part of a healthy diet, just like regular meat can. “Healthy” depends on the product and your overall diet. We’ll be transparent with ingredients and nutrition so you can decide.

Is it safe and clean?

Yes. Cultivated meat must pass strict food safety checks before it can be sold. Because it’s grown in a controlled environment, it can avoid some contamination risks that can happen in conventional meat production.

Is it better for the environment?

It has the potential to use much less land and water, and reduce pressure on nature compared to conventional meat. The overall impact depends on how it’s made at large scale, including the energy used.

Can vegetarians or vegans eat it?

It’s not vegan, because it’s real meat. Some vegetarians or vegans who avoid meat for animal welfare or ethical reasons might choose it, but that’s a personal choice.

How long does it take to make?

It depends on the product, but it’s usually much faster than raising an animal. It can take days to weeks, instead of months or years.

Is it expensive?

Right now, it costs more because it’s early-stage. Our focus is scaling up to bring the cost down over time.

Where can I buy Magic Valley cultivated meat?

We’re still working on R&D, scale-up, and the steps needed before selling. Follow our website and social channels for updates.

Where does Lucy the lamb live?

Lucy lives with her flock in a paddock in NSW.