3 ms·
I get being sceptical. But "a different food technology turned out to be harmful so this one must be the same" - that's a bad argument.
by st1x7 6y ago
I get being sceptical. But "a different food technology turned out to be harmful so this one must be the same" - that's a bad argument.
- basman 6y agoAlso a bad argument: rephrasing GP's "We don't know enough to be sure this is safe" as "This is definitely unsafe".
- allannienhuis 6y agoHowever, a sibling comment makes a really good point - that's exactly how we treat pharmaceuticals. We don't allow consumption (except in dire cases) until the product is proven safe (with a very conservative definition of proven safe). One could argue we should have the same approach with foods - the health food supplement industry has had a lot of criticism for not having enough controls. 'artificial food' of this sort seems like it should be in a similar category.
- omginternets 6y agoThat's an example, not an argument. The argument is that we're taking a major public health risk on the basis of low-quality science, in an industry with a questionable track-record. This isn't just a new food product. This is more directly comparable to a new pharmacological compound, and ought to be treated as such.
- st1x7 6y ago> we're taking a major public health risk on the basis of low-quality science Are we? (I really don't know the answer to this.) What's the science behind it and what are the gaps in it? This is the first time lab-grown meat is being sold and so far it's happening only in one country on the planet.
- SpicyLemonZest 6y agoBut I'd argue the difference is just that we're willing to give foods that seem "natural" more latitude. Bacon and sausages are believed to cause cancer at a rate of about 1 per thousand - not quite as dangerous as trans fats are for heart disease, but still a major public health issue.
- jcoq 6y agoThat's a proposition, not an argument. An argument would be evidence for this claim about "low-quality science". Comments upon comments of fear-mongering, and not a single one has managed to reference a scholarly work.
- numpad0 6y ago“none of advanced food technologies turned out not massively harmful”
- tcbawo 6y agoHow long will it take before we know the long term effects of any subtle changes in food chemistry, especially if this becomes the primary diet of some individuals? This seems wildly complex and unpredictable. It wouldn't surprise me if it took decades.