In the US, 3D-printed salmon has started being sold — but there's a catch: what it's made of

In the United States, salmon is being sold from a 3D printer that has never swum in the ocean. The unusual product is made from plant-based ingredients, and thanks to a special technology it resembles real fish in shape and texture.

The novelty is released by the Israeli company Steakholder Foods under the Perfecta brand. In September 2026 year sales started in the Northeast United States through natural products distributor KeHE. The plant-based "salmon" is sold in the form of cutlets, and the assortment also includes alternatives to steak, filet m—mignon, chicken breast, and white fish, writes 24 Channel.

How is salmon created on a 3D printer?

To manufacture the product, a plant-based paste is used, which the printer lays down in thin layers. One mixture imitates muscle fibers, another recreates fat layers. This uses, among others, soy protein, wheat protein, rapeseed oil, and coconut oil.

The characteristic pink color of the product is achieved with coloring agents, including beet powder.

At the same time, it is not real fish and not salmon grown from cells. This is a plant-based alternative created to reproduce the appearance and texture of seafood.

What else do they print instead of ordinary products?

Salmon is not the only unusual item in the Perfecta line. The company also offers plant-based alternatives to other popular products, including beef and poultry.

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3D printing technology enables forming a more complex texture of the food, not just giving the plant mass the look of a cutlet. Producers of alternative products aim to make them resemble familiar meat and fish, particularly in structure.

However, external similarity does not mean identical nutritional value. The plant-based "salmon" does not necessarily contain as many omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and trace elements as real fish, so its composition should be checked separately.