No more antibiotics? Scientists pioneer a safer way to protect cultured meat

New study explores the use of Random Antimicrobial Peptide Mixtures (RPMs) as a safe and effective alternative to antibiotics in cultured meat production. These synthetic peptide cocktails successfully eliminate bacterial contamination without harming stem cell viability or contributing to antibiotic resistance. The findings highlight RPMs as a promising solution for improving food safety and sustainability in cellular agriculture.

[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]– A study led by researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with the Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE), has identified a promising non-antibiotic antimicrobial agent that could support cultured meat production. The study, conducted by Idan Yakir a PhD student and Prof. Zvi Hayouka, , explores the use of Random Antimicrobial Peptide Mixtures (RPMs) as a safe and effective alternative to traditional antibiotics in cell culture environments.

Antibiotics are commonly used in cell-based meat production to prevent bacterial contamination. However, their use raises concerns about antibiotic resistance and residual traces in the final food products, which could impact public health and regulatory approval. The research team investigated the potential of RPMs—synthetic peptide cocktails with broad antimicrobial activity—as an innovative, antibiotic-free solution to protect cultured meat cells from contamination.

RPMs demonstrated strong bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes and Gram-negative bacteria E. coli  without harming the host cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), crucial for cultured meat production, showed no significant toxicity when exposed to RPMs at concentrations effective against bacteria. Unlike conventional antibiotics, RPMs exhibited a low occurrence of bacterial resistance, making them a more sustainable and long-term alternative. The RPM mixture was quickly broken down in a simulated digestion model, indicating no risk of bioaccumulation or adverse health effects upon consumption.

The study marks a significant step toward scaling up cultured meat production while ensuring food safety and public health. Cultured meat has been heralded as a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock farming, reducing environmental impact and minimizing zoonotic disease risks. However, microbial contamination remains a key challenge. The findings suggest that RPMs could serve as a scalable, cost-effective, and safe antimicrobial strategy in the growing field of cellular agriculture.

This research was supported by the Singapore-HUJ Alliance for Research and Enterprise (SHARE) under the Cellular Agriculture (CellAg) Programme at the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) in Singapore. The partnership between The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Singaporean research institutions plays a crucial role in advancing cutting-edge food technology solutions to address global food security challenges.

“Our findings demonstrate the immense potential of RPMs as a novel class of antimicrobial agents for cultured meat production,” said Prof. Zvi Hayouka, the lead researcher on the project. “By eliminating the need for antibiotics in cellular agriculture, we can enhance consumer safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental sustainability.”

The team is now exploring industrial applications and regulatory pathways to integrate RPMs into commercial cultured meat production, aiming for broader adoption in the alternative protein industry.

We have established a stratup company based on this technology termed Prevera (https://prevera.co/)