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It's likely that the lab grown "meat" won't be a proper substitute for the meat that we evolved to eat. Food is more complicated than it outwardly appears (i.e

It's likely that the lab grown "meat" won't be a proper substitute for the meat that we evolved to eat. Food is more complicated than it outwardly appears (i.e. a collection of muscle cells != meat) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28nutritionism.t.html?pagewanted=print http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28nutritionism.t....

asciimo 15y ago
We didn't evolve to eat happy meals, pizza, and onion rings, either. We evolved to exploit of a broad spectrum of foods, and this new food will probably fall within that spectrum.
TheEzEzz 15y ago
Agreed. As a carnivore with a conscience I'm all about jumping on the lab meat bandwagon. But as someone big on natural foods and skeptical of the current state of nutritional knowledge, I would be hesitant to base a substantial part of my protein requirements on this.
ams6110 15y ago
totally agree. I wouldn't eat it. And I hope it would be required to be clearly labeled as to its origin.
angryasian 15y ago
this sounds more like industry FUD. People are able to get there daily sustenance from gruel. Yes it may not fit your definition of food, but this is a first world complaint. There are millions of people around the world starving, that this technique could help.
- spacemanaki 15y ago
  Did you read that linked Michael Pollan piece? If not, please do, it's good. So is his other work. He's not an industry shill spreading FUD. There are serious gaps in our understanding of nutrition. Suggesting that lab grown meat might lack something that "real" meat has isn't FUD. There may be more nutritionally sound food sources than vat meat for people currently starving or subsisting on gruel.
  - JoeAltmaier 15y ago
    Yes, it is confusing to put meat in a category of foods missing from first-world diets. Should we add caviar and pound cake to that list too? More significant: will it be a diet improvement to replace fatty hamburger with this 'meat'? Perhaps - since Americans eat pounds of meat per day, a whole week's worth of protein in a Wendy's Double with Cheese.
    - richcollins 15y ago
      We evolved to eat wild game. First world humans are missing the meat that we should be eating.
      - JoeAltmaier 15y ago
        ...and that relates to purebred beef cattle, how? I imagine there are far more useful things to worry about in the American diet, than subtle differences between a single strain of pork muscle vs which strain of angus they're eating. Like how much they're eating; how much fat, salt, empty carbohydrates. If you are worried for yourself, fine, FUD away and eat vegan. But as a social phenomenon, I can't see how lab-meat can be very harmful, and it is a certain good.

asciimo 15y ago

We didn't evolve to eat happy meals, pizza, and onion rings, either. We evolved to exploit of a broad spectrum of foods, and this new food will probably fall within that spectrum.

TheEzEzz 15y ago

Agreed. As a carnivore with a conscience I'm all about jumping on the lab meat bandwagon. But as someone big on natural foods and skeptical of the current state of nutritional knowledge, I would be hesitant to base a substantial part of my protein requirements on this.

ams6110 15y ago

totally agree. I wouldn't eat it. And I hope it would be required to be clearly labeled as to its origin.

angryasian 15y ago

this sounds more like industry FUD. People are able to get there daily sustenance from gruel. Yes it may not fit your definition of food, but this is a first world complaint. There are millions of people around the world starving, that this technique could help.

spacemanaki 15y ago
Did you read that linked Michael Pollan piece? If not, please do, it's good. So is his other work. He's not an industry shill spreading FUD. There are serious gaps in our understanding of nutrition. Suggesting that lab grown meat might lack something that "real" meat has isn't FUD. There may be more nutritionally sound food sources than vat meat for people currently starving or subsisting on gruel.
- JoeAltmaier 15y ago
  Yes, it is confusing to put meat in a category of foods missing from first-world diets. Should we add caviar and pound cake to that list too? More significant: will it be a diet improvement to replace fatty hamburger with this 'meat'? Perhaps - since Americans eat pounds of meat per day, a whole week's worth of protein in a Wendy's Double with Cheese.
  - richcollins 15y ago
    We evolved to eat wild game. First world humans are missing the meat that we should be eating.
    - JoeAltmaier 15y ago
      ...and that relates to purebred beef cattle, how? I imagine there are far more useful things to worry about in the American diet, than subtle differences between a single strain of pork muscle vs which strain of angus they're eating. Like how much they're eating; how much fat, salt, empty carbohydrates. If you are worried for yourself, fine, FUD away and eat vegan. But as a social phenomenon, I can't see how lab-meat can be very harmful, and it is a certain good.