FAQ
What do Aleph Cuts taste like?
We can’t wait for you to try and experience our Cuts for yourself. TIME Magazine called the flavor, "pure meat" in an article written in December 2022. Compared to fully plant-based products, our steaks are quite meaty. They incorporate the same amino acids as conventionally produced steaks, so the same flavor development occurs during cooking. With a satisfying bite, the caramelized crust gives way to a rich and savory interior that is tender and juicy.
When can I try cultivated steak?
Aleph Cuts will be available in 2023, pending regulatory approvals in select markets.
Are Aleph Cuts real meat?
Aleph Cuts are cultivated meat, which is distinct from conventional meat. While Aleph Cuts include plant protein and fat, they are also animal-based (in part). Aleph Cuts are made with cow muscle and collagen, and have meaty flavor, texture and nutrition.
Is cultivated meat different from “lab-grown meat,” “cultured meat,” and “cell-based meat”?
All of these names refer to the same kinds of products. They may be used interchangeably. At Aleph Farms, we prefer the term “cultivated meat.”
What do you mean by “cultivated meat”?
Cultivated meat is a new application of animal cells category of protein. Like conventional meat, cultivated meat contains animal muscle, fat, and collagen. However, this muscle, collagen, and fat, and collagen is grown directly from animal cells, rather than by raising and slaughtering an animal. Most of today’s cultivated meat is technically “hybrid” cultivated meat, meaning the products contain plant-based ingredients in addition to the animal cells (we make Aleph Cuts by growing Angus cow cells on a plant protein matrix, which optimizes our steaks in terms of meaty texture). As meat cultivation technology advances, consumers will likely be able to purchase both hybrid and fully cultivated products from a variety of animal species.
What is cellular agriculture?
Cellular agriculture is the process of growing cells to produce foods, materials, and medical or therapeutic ingredients. We are using cellular agriculture to produce nutritious food with fewer natural resources. The cells for our first Aleph Cut, a Petit Steak, come from a cow named Lucy, in California.
What are the environmental benefits of cultivated meat?
The main driving force behind cultivated meat is the need to develop a sustainable production system for animal products. When compared to conventional beef production, environmental studies (called Life Cycle Assessments) have found that cultivated meat has the potential to substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the need for land and water. Meat cultivation can also incorporate renewable energy into its production system in ways that conventional production cannot. Aleph Farms is committed to carbon neutrality in its operations by 2025 and throughout the entire supply chain by 2030.
Are Aleph Cuts vegan or vegetarian?
No. Aleph Cuts are animal-based products, as the original source of animal cells is a cow. However, many vegetarians and vegans may call Aleph Cuts vegetarian-friendly and vegan-friendly, as the product is not harvested from an animal carcass and there is no slaughter involved in the production.
Why does Aleph Cuts have plants in it?
Plant protein provides a supporting structure for the Angus cells to grow — a critical function in the meat cultivation process. The plant protein matrix models the process of cellular growth within a cow, where cells grow along a supporting network of proteins and other compounds. Our plant protein matrix is porous, with a lot of surface area and space for oxygen, allowing the cells to mimic the formation of muscle fibers. It also supports cell maturation and their ability to form tissue, contributing to the steaks’ quality texture.
Do you use antibiotics in your production process?
No, we do not use antibiotics in production. Our controlled and traceable process is facilitated in a closed, sterile environment, eliminating the need for antibiotics in production.
Do you use genetic modification to make Aleph Cuts?
No. We do not genetically modify or immortalize any of the cells we use to cultivate steaks. All of the Angus cow cells we use to make Aleph Cuts have the natural ability to replicate and mature into the types of cells that make up meat, so we do not need to genetically modify or immortalize cells.
What is in your cell feed?
Our cell feed (also known as growth medium) contains carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and non-animal proteins. These non-animal proteins model the serum proteins (including growth factors) naturally found in the blood of cows.
What are growth factors?
Whether inside a cow or inside a cultivator, growth factors are proteins that are necessary for cells to grow and specialize. Our animal-free growth factors are produced by plants or by fermentation of food-safe yeasts or bacteria. Fermentation is the same production method used to make some vitamins (like Vitamin C), medicines (like insulin), and other foods (like rennet in cheese). The food-safe bacteria, yeasts, and/or plants are genetically engineered to produce biologically identical growth factors for our cell feed. However, the growth factors themselves are not genetically engineered, nor are they present in the final product.
What allergens do your products contain?
Aleph Cuts contain soy and wheat, so they are not suitable for individuals with soy, wheat, or gluten allergies or sensitivities. Also, if you are allergic to beef or other cow meat, please keep in mind that this product is made with cow cells, and therefore could cause similar allergic reactions.
Can Aleph Cuts be kosher or halal?
There is no inherent reason why cultivated meat cannot be kosher or halal.
In January 2023, Israeli Chief Rabbi David Baruch Lau ruled that our cultivated steak is kosher, which means permitted for consumption by Jews under religious law. This ruling, coming from the leader of the Chief Rabbinate (a bellwether rabbinic council for religious certifications in Judaism), opened the door for us to receive a kosher certificate.
The ruling also set a foundation for an inclusive public discourse about the intersection of tradition and innovation, and indicates openness among religious authorities to certify cultivated meat products as appropriate to consume. We want more diners to be able to enjoy our products safely within the bounds of their preferred cultural norms. To this end, we are also in contact with Muslim, Hindu and other religious authorities to certify our products as allowed within respective religious traditions.
In January 2023, Israeli Chief Rabbi David Baruch Lau ruled that our cultivated steak is kosher, which means permitted for consumption by Jews under religious law. This ruling, coming from the leader of the Chief Rabbinate (a bellwether rabbinic council for religious certifications in Judaism), opened the door for us to receive a kosher certificate.
The ruling also set a foundation for an inclusive public discourse about the intersection of tradition and innovation, and indicates openness among religious authorities to certify cultivated meat products as appropriate to consume. We want more diners to be able to enjoy our products safely within the bounds of their preferred cultural norms. To this end, we are also in contact with Muslim, Hindu and other religious authorities to certify our products as allowed within respective religious traditions.
Will you offer other kinds of cultivated meat in the future?
Yes. Our vision is to offer a range of products to meet consumer needs. We will likely continue to offer hybrid cultivated meat products, and as we scale and advance our technology, we will also produce fully cultivated products. One next step is to incorporate 3D bioprinting into our production. In 2021, we made a ribeye prototype by printing additive layers of cow muscle and fat cells on a plant protein matrix made from peas. We have a versatile production platform that enables us to produce different cuts of cultivated meat (including custom cuts) from any animal species. We plan to expand our portfolio of products to include cultivated lamb and fish.
What are the animal-based components?
Angus cow cells are the only animal-based components in Aleph Cuts.
Why is your focus on beef?
Conventional beef is especially resource-intensive and has high carbon and methane footprints, so as part of our mission to support a just and inclusive transition to sustainable and secure food systems, focusing on cow cells enables us to maximize our impact in terms of protecting the climate.
Do you use FBS to produce Aleph Cuts?
No. We do not use FBS (fetal bovine serum) or any other animal-based ingredients.
Why do you work with meat producers?
We share a common goal with conventional meat producers – to feed the global human population. Many conventional meat producers see cultivated meat as an opportunity to diversify production methods. Cultivated meat’s short, predictable and resilient value chain offers flexibility for the meat sector, letting it better adapt to market needs, especially amidst sudden shocks to global supply.
Collaboration between stakeholders is crucial to driving the transition towards more resilient food systems. We exercise due diligence on all collaboration that can impact our sustainability commitments. No other company impacts our business decisions or our ability to operate in autonomous fashion.
Collaboration between stakeholders is crucial to driving the transition towards more resilient food systems. We exercise due diligence on all collaboration that can impact our sustainability commitments. No other company impacts our business decisions or our ability to operate in autonomous fashion.
Are there job opportunities at Aleph Farms?
We are always looking for passionate, honest, talented, kind and hardworking people to join our wonderful team. Please visit our current openings to learn more.
