Press Association Graphic

The world’s first test-tube burger, made from lab-grown meat, was yesterday cooked and served in London.

The 142g patty, which cost £250,000 (€289,495) to produce, was dished up before an invited audience.

Scientist-turned-chef Mark Post produced the burger from 20,000 tiny strips of meat grown from cow stem cells.

After trying his own creation for the first time, he said: “I think it’s a very good start, it proved that we can do this, that we can make it and to provide a start to build upon – I am very pleased with it.”

Chicago author Josh Schonwald and Austrian food researcher Hanni Rutzler gave the meat’s taste a mixed review after becoming the first to try it.

After taking a bite, Rutzler said there was “intense taste” but that she had expected a softer texture.

“It’s close to meat, it’s not that juicy, but the consistence is perfect,” she said.

It’s close to meat, it’s not that juicy, but the consistence is perfect

“The absence is the fat, it’s a leanness to it, but the bite feels like a conventional hamburger,” Schonwald said.“This is kind of an unnatural experience in that I can’t tell you over the past 20 years how many times I have had a burger without ketchup or onions or jalapenos or bacon.”

Post believes the new burger could herald a food revolution, with artificial meat products appearing in supermarkets in as little as 10 years.

It has received the financial backing of Google founder Sergey Brin, who reportedly put some £215,000 of his vast fortune towards the project.