Mr Beast Called 'The New Bill Gates' as He Promotes Meat Produced Without Killing Animals

Can we really get meat without killing innocent animals? A new video featuring YouTube star Mr Beast at a top-class food innovation lab has started a big debate. In the video, the social media mogul visits a facility operated by Upside Foods, a biotech company working on lab-grown meat that plans to offer real chicken without slaughtering a single bird.

People have taken to social media to call Mr Beast the new Bill Gates, creating parallels with the Microsoft founder's interest in future food systems and investment in alternative proteins. But critics on platforms such as X and Reddit have also put this under fire.

Mr Beast sampled both traditional and cultivated chicken during his visit and stated he could not tell the difference in taste. His involvement, particularly given his partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation on food innovation initiatives, has thrust the topic of cultivated meat into mainstream conversation and got people talking about what lab-grown food is and whether it can meet the health and sustainability promises touted by its backers.

What Is Lab-Grown Meat And Why Does It Matter?

Now, lab-grown meat, also known in scientific and industry circles as cultivated or cell-cultured meat, is produced in a laboratory from real animal cells instead of by raising and slaughtering livestock. The process begins with the extraction of cells from a living animal or an egg. These cells are then placed in a controlled environment containing a nutrient-rich growth medium, encouraging them to multiply and differentiate into the types of tissues found in conventional meat. Over time, these cells develop into muscle and fat structures that resemble the texture and flavour of meat from a farmed animal.

Also, Upside Foods, which is one of the more advanced players in this industry, got regulatory clearance in the United States to sell its cultivated chicken products after a rigorous review by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. This means the product must meet the same safety standards as conventionally produced meat before it can be sold to the public.

Moreover, people in favour of it argue that cultivated meat shows a complete change in how humans produce and consume animal protein. Without the need for the slaughter of innocent animals, critics of traditional farming say it could massively reduce animal suffering and give a more humane alternative to existing food systems. Additionally, organisations such as the Good Food Institute have pointed to several potential environmental benefits, including considerably less land use and a reduced risk of food-borne pathogens because cultured meat is grown in a clean, monitored environment free from the bacterial contamination that can plague conventional meat production.

Furthermore, despite these potential advantages, the technology is still in its infancy. While cultivated meat has been approved in countries including the United States and Singapore, full commercial availability is limited, and the production process remains expensive and technologically complex. Some states in the US have even sought to ban its sale, claiming concerns over safety, consumer choice or the impact on traditional farming communities.

Will This Food Be As Healthy As Real Meat?

Now, one of the main questions consumers and sceptics both ask is whether lab-grown meat is genuinely as healthy as conventional meat. Because the product is made from real animal cells, its basic nutritional profile is expected to be mainly similar to that of traditional chicken or pork. Cells cultured in a lab contain the same proteins and amino acids that give meat its familiar texture and nutritional value. Early taste tests reportedly say the flavour and mouthfeel of cultivated chicken can be indistinguishable from conventional meat.

However, scientists are still studying the detailed nutritional differences. Some experts suggest that lab-grown meat might initially have lower levels of certain micro-nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin B12 compared with conventionally farmed meat. This is partly because nutrient content in traditional meat partly reflects an animal's diet and metabolism over its lifetime, rather than just the cellular composition. But producers like Upside Foods have said that they plan to tailor the nutrient profile of their products over time, potentially even enhancing certain attributes for health benefits. So, yes, once perfected, it will be as healthy or even healthier.