Beef rice and nutritional advantages of wild fish over farmed salmon

South Korean researchers from Yonsei University have created a new source of sustainable protein by combining cow muscle cells with rice grains. By feeding rice with enzymes, they were able to create a foundation for the growth of animal muscle and fat cells, resulting in a cheaper alternative to farmed cattle meat. Beef rice has approximately 8% more protein and 7% more fat than regular rice, with 18% of its protein coming from animals.

South Korea has traditionally associated meat with wealth and health, leading to a high consumption of animal products. Korean barbecue and local cuisine also play a significant role in the country’s social life. In 2022, per capita meat consumption exceeded rice consumption for the first time and now stands at almost 61 kg. Only 4% of South Korean adults identify as vegetarians, with 12% as flexitarians.

A study by researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Lancaster, the University of Stirling, and the University of Aberdeen found that salmon farming leads to the loss of six out of nine essential nutrients. The researchers suggest that we should eat the same wild fish that salmon are fed, such as mackerel, anchovies, and herring. Compared to salmon fillets, wild-feed fish fillets have five times the calcium content, four times the iodine content, and more than one and a half times the iron, omega-3, vitamin B12, and vitamin A contents.