TONY EASTLEY: How would you like two test tube beef patties, no special sauce, no lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and completely lacking in fat and juice? Mmm...
Scientists in the Netherlands have created the pseudo-meat patty from stem cells. They say the technology eventually could offer a more sustainable way of producing meat.
Although the taste testers' verdict on the world's first test tube burger was not glowing.
Europe correspondent Barbara Miller reports.
(1960s burger commercial)
BARBARA MILLER: In the 1960s, the beef burger was revolutionary. Now comes the test tube burger. Its creator is Professor Mark Post from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
MARK POST: Here you see in this freezer the first batches of muscle tissue that eventually are going to make the entire hamburger.
BARBARA MILLER: Stem cells from a cow's muscle tissue are cultured and given nutrients so they grow and multiply.
The researchers added beetroot juice for colouring and saffron, egg powder and breadcrumbs for flavouring and consistency.
The burger was cooked and sampled at a media event in London.
This was the verdict of the food critics Hanni Roetzler and Josh Shonwald.
HANNI ROETZLER: There's quite some intense taste, it's close to meat, it's not that juicy.
JOSH SHONWALD: The absence is the fat.
BARBARA MILLER: Professor Mark Post says it could be a food of the future.
MARK POST: We're doing that because live stock meat production is not good for the environment, is eventually not going to meet the demand of the world and it's not good for the animal.
MARTIN FRANKLAND: I don't personally agree with that, what would you then do with the animals if you didn't eat them?
BARBARA MILLER: Martin Frankland is a London butcher.
MARTIN FRANKLAND: I'm all about you know, proper free range, you know, traditionally reared meats in the old fashioned way.
BARBARA MILLER: Another butcher, who wanted only to be referred to as Michael, is also skeptical.
MICHAEL: I'm looking at it as a butcher's point of view, I just think it's adding to another reason to give people not to be eating meat, you know, wanting to be vegetarians and what with that and horse meat, and you just don't need it, you really don't need it.
BARBARA MILLER: Bad news for butchers.
MICHAEL: Yeah, bad news for butchers in general, it's bad for the meat trade and you know, these are probably people who are doing this are all vegetarians, these stem cell people, you know, probably never even ate a burger in their life.
BARBARA MILLER: These butchers needn't worry just yet. The burger's creators think it could take another generation before test tube burgers make it to the supermarket shelves.
This is Barbara Miller in London reporting for AM.