People in Denmark are ready for cultivated meat

In a large survey conducted by YouGov for the nonprofit think tank Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe), consumers in the EU, including the Danish, have been asked about their attitude to cultivated meat. 

Cultivated meat has already been sold in restaurants in the USA and Singapore but has not yet been approved for sale in the EU. If the food authorities assess that the safety and quality are in order, 62% of Danes believe that it should be able to be made available for sale in Denmark. And almost as many (60%) believe that we should also produce cultivated meat in Denmark and get the economic benefits.

According to the survey, more than half of the Danes (55%) would try cultivated meat if it came to Denmark, and more than one in four (27%) would replace some of the meat they eat today with cultivated meat.

Development and support are the chicken and the egg

One of those who has read the consumer survey with great interest is Professor Jette Feveile Young, of the Department of Food Science at Aarhus University and researcher in the development of cultivated meat: “Cultivated meat is a new production method, and there is an element of the chicken and the egg in creating development and dissemination. Because it is difficult for consumers to take a position on something they have not seen and tasted yet, but it is also difficult to develop if there is no popular support. Therefore, it is very interesting that most consumers are already positive now. It can push the development.”

The potential gains from cultivated meat are significant for both the environment and animals according to Jette Feveile Young.

“We can see that eating habits do not change very quickly. Although there are more options to eat vegetarian and vegan today, meat is still essential for most people. Meat has some nutritional properties that make it advantageous for the majority of the population to eat – but the amount can be greatly reduced. Meat production and especially ruminants like cattle have the greatest climate impact, and therefore there is great potential if just some of our meat in the future is cultivated instead.”

Elena Walden, Senior Policy Manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said: “Cultivated meat can sit alongside the best farming practices to play a vital role in boosting food security and providing future-proof jobs. Denmark, with its appetite for innovation and strong life sciences sector, is well-placed to take advantage of this quickly growing global industry, and it’s great to see nearly two-thirds of Danes appreciate the economic benefits this food can deliver.” 

Key results from the survey

• 62% thought average meat consumption in Denmark was too high.
• 41% want to eat significantly/slightly less meat.
• 33% have heard about cultivated meat, but only 6% know a lot about it.
• 62% agree that cultivated meat should be made available for sale in Denmark if it passes its assessment from the food safety authority.
• 60% believe that if cultivated meat comes on the market, it should be produced in Denmark, so the Danish economy can benefit from it.
• More than half (55%) would try cultivated meat if it came to Denmark.

The data used is based on an online survey conducted by YouGov Deutschland GmbH, in which 1009 people in Denmark took part between 19 and 21 April 2024. The results were weighted and are representative of the Danish population aged 18 and over.

Source: YouGov Deutschland 2024 © All rights reserved.