Soylent Green 2.0?” A Qualitative Analysis of Online Comments on Cultivated Meat in Germany and the Netherlands

Cultivated meat attracts growing attention not only in news media and among experts and investors but also in social media discussions and online newspaper comments. While not representative of the general public, such comments offer valuable insights into public attitudes, perceptions, and concerns. We analysed 491 German and Dutch online comments to explore perceived benefits, risks, and barriers to cultivated meat development. Many commenters expressed optimism about sustainability and animal welfare benefits, yet concerns about health risks, fairness, and unnaturalness were widespread. Overall, attitudes were predominantly negative and highly polarised. We identify several contributing factors: polarising media events, societal divides around sustainability and responsibility, distrust in institutions and industry, over-promising technological narratives, and the spread of misinformation. These findings underscore the need for transparent communication, inclusive dialogue, and more nuanced public debate on the societal implications of emerging food technologies.