Serum markers for beef meat quality: Potential media supplement for cell-cultured meat production

Abstract

As the global population continues to grow and food demands increase, the food industry faces mounting pressure to develop innovative solutions. Cell-cultured meat involves cultivating cells from live animals through self-renewal methods or scaffolding and presents a promising alternative to traditional meat production by generating nutritionally rich biomass. However, significant research is still needed to overcome challenges such as developing serum-free media, identifying suitable additives to support cell growth, and ensuring the quality of cell-cultured meat closely resembles that of traditional meat. Meat quality, which is influenced by various sensorial factors (color, texture, and taste), tenderness, and nutritional values, is determined by the level of intramuscular fat deposition, which significantly influences both meat yield and quality. This paper offers a concise overview of serum markers used to assess beef quality and yield and potential additives currently used in culture media for cell-cultured meat production. We also proposed the potential of using serum markers as additives in the culture media to enhance production of cell-cultured meat. Overall, this review highlights the significance of cell-cultured meat production as a viable solution to address the challenges posed by increasing food demands.