KFC moves to add 3D-printed chicken nuggets with lab-grown meat to its menu

If you're craving chicken nuggets, perhaps I can interest you in some 3D-printed ones from KFC.

The fast-food restaurant chain has officially announced it's partnering with a Russian research laboratory, 3D Printing Solutions, to develop technology for what it calls "meat of the future." Or, in other words, laboratory-produced chicken nuggets. (I know, it sounds extremely appetizing.)

Not only will this be the first of its kind, but the nuggets will apparently look and taste a lot like KFC's original chicken. Producing 3D-printed chicken is also more environmentally friendly than standard meat.

So, how is this possible?

According to the press release, 3D Bioprinting Solutions is working on "developing additive bioprinting technology using chicken cells and plant material, allowing it to reproduce the taste and texture of chicken meat."

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With the bioprinting method, you can still incorporate all of the same micronutrients you get from eating chicken but without including a bunch of additives used in traditional farming and agriculture. So, you can rest assured that it's a lot healthier for you. It's also more ethical, seeing as how there aren't any animals being harmed in the process.

The release also cites a study done by the American Environmental Science & Technology Journal that states "the technology of growing meat from cells has minimal negative impact on the environment, allowing energy consumption to be cut by more than half, greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced 25 fold and 100 times less land to be used than traditional farm-based meat production."

The push for 3D-printed chicken stems from the growing trend of meat alternatives like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods — which have made it into fast food chains (including KFC) and supermarkets.

There's yet to be a restaurant to create its own version of an alternative meat product and it looks like KFC is taking the leap. But it's important to note KFC mentions the 3D-printed nuggets consist of plant material and chicken cells.

Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, on the other hand, are 100 percent plant-based. So, if you're vegetarian, you'll likely want to do some research before diving into an order of these nuggets.

Additionally, while the research laboratory takes care of the scientific stuff, KFC has it covered in terms of ingredients. The chain will provide all of its signature ingredients, like spices and breading, to give the 3D-printed nugs that well-known KFC kick. And also, to help you forget that what you're eating isn't actually chicken. (Even though it is, sort of.)

Of course, that'll require a taste test of your own to confirm. We might have to wait a while, though. KFC says the final product will be received in fall of 2020 in Moscow — with no word on when we can expect it to hit menus in the U.S.

Regardless, I can't wait to yell "I'll have an order of the 3D-printed nuggets, please" in the drive-thru when they're finally available.