CULTURED MEAT TECHNOLOGY: UNVEILING AWARENESS AND HALAL PERCEPTIONS AMONG MUSLIM YOUTH IN MALAYSIA

In recent years, there has been a rise in research focusing on how consumers perceive cultured meat technology, which is nearing readiness for commercialization. While the concept of cultured meat has been around since tissue cell culture technology was invented, it hasnt been a primary focus for scientists, nor has it made significant inroads into local or global markets. Moreover, theres a noticeable lack of knowledge and understanding about this technology among consumers, particularly among young Muslims in Malaysia, as evidenced by the scarcity of reference sources and previous studies. Additionally, discussions on the halal aspects of cultured meat technology remain limited despite current concerns.Therefore, this study aims to assess the level of awareness of cultured meat technology among Muslim youth at the Academy of Contemporary Studies (ACIS), UiTM Shah Alam. It also seeks to gauge their understanding of the halal concept related to cultured meat technology and analyze the factors influencing their acceptance of this technology. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative approach was employed, using a questionnaire distributed via Google Form to 120 Muslim youth at ACIS, UiTM Shah Alam.The collected data underwent descriptive and reliability analyses using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) Version 27. The findings revealed that a majority of respondents (76.6%) were highly aware of the existence of cultured meat technology. However, only a moderate proportion (31.7%) demonstrated an understanding of cultured meat from a halal perspective. Nonetheless, a significant number of respondents (40.8%) expressed agreement with the idea that cultured meat is acceptable for consumption.In conclusion, this research endeavors to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding among Muslim youth, as well as to inform future researchers and the food industry about cultured meat technology.