Turning Vegetarian

[Captain X]

There's already medical research into growing various soft tissues to replace things like ears and noses in the hope that eventually we'll be able to grow organs, arms, legs and the like made to order for someone who needs a transplant, lost something in an accident, or who was born without an arm/leg/whatever. The interest in growing meat by the moral vegetarians comes from this area, since if you could literally just grow the muscle tissue that makes up a steak or fillet from just a DNA sample, it becomes appealing because you could have meat without harming any animal to get it. If the research progresses enough, it's possible they could even grow the bone for things like BBQ ribs and drumsticks - or even a headless turkey with no internal organs to clean out for Thanksgiving. So yeah, I can see the appeal of that, but since I see most animals as potential food anyway, I don't care that much. I think it'd be cool if they could do it, but mainly for the medical application of eleminating the need for organ donation, or for restoring someone's appearance and functionality, or correcting birth defects.

 

[Goliath]

None of those things are applicable if you grow muscle in a vat of nutrients. It wouldn't be much like the lovely meat we all enjoy every day.

That's a legitimate concern. It could spell success or failure for this whole vat-grown meat project.

An animal's diet and lifestyle definitely affects the quality of the meat it produces. I've noticed, for example, that the free-range chickens which my dad raises on his farm are considerably tastier than any store-bought chicken. And veal calves are treated the way they are, not because meat producers take pleasure in cruelty, but to ensure that veal tastes like--well, veal.

If vat-grown meat has no flavour, then it will never be a commercial success. At best, the producers will end up serving a niche market of people who are bothered by the thought of killing animals for food, but are unwilling to give up eating meat.

 

[Captain X]

On the bright side it can't be any worse than the soy or tofu "meats" that are already out there. I've actually tried some of the burgers, and so far the Boco burgers are the best-tasting as far as actually tasting like a burger, but they cost about a dollar more for a 4-pack than the pre-cook microwavable burgers I usually get during the school year. It doesn't cound like a lot, but it adds up after a while.

 

[RJDiogenes]

For a while, at least, people will be frightened of vat-grown meat, just as they have been by genetically engineered and irradiated food; unless the public becomes vastly more educated in the near future.

In any case, I'm looking forward to something like this.

 

[Pingfah]

For a while, at least, people will be frightened of vat-grown meat, just as they have been by genetically engineered and irradiated food; unless the public becomes vastly more educated in the near future.

This brings to mind an argument I had with a bunch of art students at my friends house party once, trying to convince them that eating GM food would not make you grow a second head.

"You don't know that!!!" was the reply, "they haven't done the research!!!"

 

[Sean Aaron]

Would any vegetarians here return to meat if it had never actually walked or had a face? Is the whole concept off-putting, or would that make absolutely no difference?

Vat-grown meat would be fine with me; especially if it meant the end of factory farming of animals.

I eat stuff like TVP and quorn for the texture rather than the flavour, so whether or not cultured meat tasted like "corn-fed Iowa beef" is irrelevant to me.

 

[Laren]

And then, a few months ago, this little morsel hit the news. Honestly, one study doesn't make science, but it's fun to bring that up in a gathering of vegetarians. Personally, I really don't care what other people eat, and I will happily adjust the dishes I present accordingly if I'm hosting a get-together that I know includes vegetarians.

It's mostly vegans who need to watch their vitamin B-12 intake. Dairy contains plenty of it.

Another interesting thing I heard: Apparently studies show a link between the consumption of dairy/grains and shizophrenia. Admittedly, I haven't been looking into this yet, so I don't know how much truth there is to it.

 

[Meredith]

I don't eat food, I just absorb the life essences of my fellow posters....

 

[Hoser]

I don't eat food, I just absorb the life essences of my fellow posters....

Hm, think I found the next moderator candidate.

And then, a few months ago, this little morsel hit the news. Honestly, one study doesn't make science, but it's fun to bring that up in a gathering of vegetarians. Personally, I really don't care what other people eat, and I will happily adjust the dishes I present accordingly if I'm hosting a get-together that I know includes vegetarians.

It's mostly vegans who need to watch their vitamin B-12 intake. Dairy contains plenty of it.

Yep. Milk and eggs. Or those energy drinks....which are hilarious, since B-12 is water soluble and they give like 200-400% of the daily intake.