Lab-grown meat could be on sale at leading supermarkets within the next few years as application for the product rises, says the Food Standards Agency.

The food regulator said it has already received applications for lab-grown steak, beef, chicken and foie gras and expects another 15 within the next two years.

However, ensuring that cultivated meat is as safe for human consumption as traditional meat is still a crucial step before product launch, said FSA chief scientific adviser Professor Robin May.

May told The Guardian: “Companies are obviously aiming for products indistinguishable from the animal equivalent, but the way they are achieving that is fundamentally different.”

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“You [create cells] typically with a very complex cocktail of growth media and growth factors. Are they all safe? Because there might be some left in the final product. Also, are there any genetic changes in the cells that might make them in some way hazardous?”

“The most important thing is that the food you buy is food you can trust. So I think people expect us to go as far as we possibly can in terms of establishing food safety.”

It is understood the FSA assessment process will take over two years to develop and it will collaborate with academic experts and the lab-grown meat brands to ensure an efficient and safe approval system.

The news follows UK pet food brand Meatly becoming the first lab-grown meat brand to be approved in Europe earlier this year.