A scoping review of cell-cultured meat (CM) sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance was conducted, analyzing 26 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2023. The review aimed to clarify what is known about CM's sensory qualities and their impact on consumer acceptance. Only five studies conducted actual sensory evaluations, with four evaluating real CM products. The remaining 21 studies relied on hypothetical scenarios or consumer expectations. Many studies had explicit goals to increase CM acceptance, with some authors affiliated with the CM industry, potentially introducing bias. CM is a meat alternative grown from animal cells in vitro, often framed as sustainable and equivalent to conventional meat. However, its sensory characteristics remain largely hypothetical, based on researchers' and consumers' imaginations. Studies showed that most consumers had negative expectations of CM, particularly regarding its sensory qualities, due to unfamiliarity. Positive framing, such as emphasizing safety, health benefits, and environmental sustainability, increased consumer acceptance. However, the literature lacks critical evaluations of CM's potential risks, such as contamination and genetic drift. Only five studies evaluated actual CM products, with one using a placebo sample and four testing real CM. These studies found that CM closely resembled conventional meat in sensory characteristics and reactions to cooking. However, the claim that CM will always have the same sensory qualities as conventional meat is not well-supported. Most studies involved small sample sizes, leading to low statistical power, and many used untrained panelists, reducing the reliability of sensory evaluations. CM production is often presented as a positive, transformative biotechnology, but this is based on theoretical projections with large uncertainties. While CM may be more sustainable, its environmental impact is not fully understood. The review highlights the need for more rigorous sensory evaluations and critical assessments of CM's potential risks to better inform consumer acceptance and policy decisions.A scoping review of cell-cultured meat (CM) sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance was conducted, analyzing 26 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2023. The review aimed to clarify what is known about CM's sensory qualities and their impact on consumer acceptance. Only five studies conducted actual sensory evaluations, with four evaluating real CM products. The remaining 21 studies relied on hypothetical scenarios or consumer expectations. Many studies had explicit goals to increase CM acceptance, with some authors affiliated with the CM industry, potentially introducing bias. CM is a meat alternative grown from animal cells in vitro, often framed as sustainable and equivalent to conventional meat. However, its sensory characteristics remain largely hypothetical, based on researchers' and consumers' imaginations. Studies showed that most consumers had negative expectations of CM, particularly regarding its sensory qualities, due to unfamiliarity. Positive framing, such as emphasizing safety, health benefits, and environmental sustainability, increased consumer acceptance. However, the literature lacks critical evaluations of CM's potential risks, such as contamination and genetic drift. Only five studies evaluated actual CM products, with one using a placebo sample and four testing real CM. These studies found that CM closely resembled conventional meat in sensory characteristics and reactions to cooking. However, the claim that CM will always have the same sensory qualities as conventional meat is not well-supported. Most studies involved small sample sizes, leading to low statistical power, and many used untrained panelists, reducing the reliability of sensory evaluations. CM production is often presented as a positive, transformative biotechnology, but this is based on theoretical projections with large uncertainties. While CM may be more sustainable, its environmental impact is not fully understood. The review highlights the need for more rigorous sensory evaluations and critical assessments of CM's potential risks to better inform consumer acceptance and policy decisions.