Cell Based Seafood: Japanese Consumer Views

Cell-based seafood is produced by taking cells from live sea creatures and cultivating them in appropriate growth media in bioreactors. Identical to conventional tissue at the DNA level, cell-based products appear to be safe for human consumption and might present a viable alternative to wild-caught or farm-raised seafood in the near future. This might take pressure off aquatic ecosystems and mitigate severe animal welfare concerns within the seafood industry; as numerous underwater species are recognised to be pain-perceiving or even sentient, many common rearing, catching, transporting and slaughtering practices have been criticised by animal welfare advocates. In this context, conventional seafood production in Japan has more than once been the centre of international media attention. The article provides a first glimpse at Japanese consumer attitudes when presented with the opportunity to consume cell-based seafood instead of or in addition to conventional products. Attitudes and behavioural intentions were found to be positive overall but extensive information campaigns appear to be of paramount importance for the products’ market success; numerous interested consumers expressed the desire for more details on how cell-based seafood is produced and how product safety can be guaranteed. Full study: Braun PD & Knight A (2023). Appetite or distaste for cell-based seafood? An examination of Japanese consumer attitudes. Commodities 2(4):329-354. https://doi.org/10.3390/commodities20....