Can laboratory meat be kosher or halal? Some say Yes.

The companies that grow meat from cultured cells present their proposal as an ecological and ethical alternative to consuming protein from slaughtered chickens, cows and other farm animals.

And as they seek to attract followers of Islamic and Jewish traditions, they also try to prove that the farmed meat can be halal and kosher.

Strictly observant Muslims and Jews will not eat food without these religious certificates. The rules for each are separate but overlap in some ways. For example, the animals must be slaughtered in specific ways and the meat must contain no trace of blood. Certain foods, such as pork, are not allowed.

GOOD Meat, a California-based cultured meat producer, commissioned three Shariah scholars to determine whether lab-grown meat could be halal, and the group came to the conclusion earlier this month that it is possible.

Also this month, SuperMeat, a cultured meat company in Tel Aviv, announced that it has received a certificate from the Orthodox Union Kosher, known as OU Kosher, the largest kosher certification agency in the world.

Lab-grown meat could soon start making it to consumers’ tables after the Department of Agriculture gave approval in June to GOOD Meat, and another lab-grown meat company UPSIDE Foods, to produce cell-cultured poultry products. The process of making cultured meat starts with a cell line that is obtained from animals and reproduced. (Therefore it will not satisfy the ethical concerns of vegans who refuse to use any animal products.)

The cells are placed in a bioreactor, a stainless steel vessel that provides the energy and heat needed for growth. The cells are immersed in nutrients, including amino acids and vitamins, similar to what the animal would be fed, according to GOOD Meat.

Mohammad Hussaini, vice president of global Halal affairs for the American Halal Foundation, a major witness that monitors products and facilities for compliance with halal standards, said more meat-growing companies have sought their organizational expertise in the last year.

Since many of the companies are early stages, he has yet to see any successfully making halal products.

“There is interest, but no one has hit it off yet, Mr Hussaini said.

There’s also an incentive for companies to adhere to kosher standards because those products are popular among a wide range of consumers, said Avrom Pollak, president of Star-K, a Maryland-based kosher certification agency.

If its kosher-certified, some Muslims not all Muslims will accept it, Dr. Pollak said. Even among the general public there is a perception out there that when something is kosher-certified, it has enhanced value.

Meeting the requirements to be kosher or halal requires some care to match different rules documented in the traditions religious texts and their followers practice around the world.

Halal is Arabic for permitted or lawful. Halal food must adhere to Islamic law in how it is sourced, processed and prepared. Some foods are prohibited in both traditions, such as pork or products containing blood.

The group working with the GOOD Meat company consists of advisers to the Royal Court in Saudi Arabia and professors, also based in that kingdom. It announced on September 10 that cultured meat could be considered halal if it meets specific criteria:

• The cell line from which it is derived is from an animal that is allowed to eat, such as a chicken or a cow. Animals such as pigs and reptiles are prohibited.

• The cell line comes from an animal that was slaughtered according to Islamic law, which says it should be done by a Muslim of sound mind who would cut the animals throat with a clean and sharp knife.

• The nutrients fed to the cells do not include any substances that are forbidden to be eaten, such as spilled blood, alcohol or materials taken from animals that have not been properly slaughtered, or pigs.

• The cultivated meat is edible and it does not cause damage to the health.

Those principles could help the company develop a standard for its products, said Josh Tetrick, the co-founder and CEO of GOOD Meat.

This decision for us affects how we think about building our process, said Mr. Tetrick. From now on, we want to develop cell lines that fulfill those criteria laid out.

As the Muslim population grows, so does its meat consumption, Mr. Tetrick said, and he does not want to exclude the millions of people who eat halal food.

The global halal meat market was valued at $202 billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach $375 billion by 2030, according to Straits Research, a market research firm based in India.

Mr Hussaini, who is not affiliated with the panel commissioned by GOOD Meat, said he believed there was potential for cultured meats to be considered halal.

There is a way to it, because we understand the current international standards and the theological opinions, he said.

Some in the industry believe the kosher market also presents an opportunity for lab-grown meat. There are about 12.35 million kosher consumers in the United States, according to Star-K.

To be considered kosher, meat must come from animals slaughtered by a person trained in how to slaughter animals according to Jewish laws, which involves removing forbidden parts and also prohibits consuming pigs and other animals, according to OU Kosher.

SuperMeat bypassed the slaughter rules entirely by using a cell line from a fertilized egg. This is how the company was able to meet kosher meat Mehadrin standards, which is the strictest level of kosher supervision, said Ido Savir, CEO of SuperMeat.

The company is also in talks with halal certification agencies, but its line of chicken products is still in the early stages and is not commercially available. The company is looking to partner with other meat producers to supply them with cultured meat. It expects to begin selling its meat in late 2024 or early 2025 in the United States.

Overall, Mr. Savir hopes that the certification agency’s accreditation will help gain consumer confidence to try a largely new product.

Even with certification, consumers can be hesitant. Adnan Durrani, the CEO and founder of Saffron Road, a Connecticut-based halal food brand, does not foresee selling cultured meats. They seem heavily processed, he said, which he doesn’t think will appeal to his customers who have motivations other than religious beliefs.

Our consumers are very dedicated to natural, organic products that are clean, said Mr. Durrani. I don’t think they have much interest in it from what I’ve seen.