Would you eat "test-tube" meat?
It used to be that mock meat meant veggie burgers, seitan and Tofurkey, but these days, there's a new "mock meat" in town, one that many vegetarians aren't quite sure what to do with. Although the technology is not quite there yet, sooner or later, scientists will be able to grow muscle tissue from a few "starter cells", independent of a full organism. In essence, this means that we'll be able to eat "test tube" or in vitro bacon without sending Babe to the slaughterhouse.
If you're vegetarian for health reasons, obviously you'd want to avoid this in vitro mock meat, as it would be just as unhealthy as the real deal. But what if you are vegetarian for animal cruelty, religion, environmental concerns or other reasons? Would you eat meat produced in a lab, not on a farm? "Tissue engineers" claim that the meat might actually be safer to eat, as the risk for bacterial cross contamination and disease exposure would be reduced. Further, the meat tissue wouldn't actually be genetically modified or cloned, just "artificially grown", so it might be safer than eating Dolly the Sheep as well.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) thinks in vitro or "test-tube" meat is a good thing, and they're putting their money where their mouth is: they're offering $1 million to the first person who can put in vitro chicken meat in American grocery stores. Although PETA certainly doesn't speak for all vegetarians, they are an innovator, leader and a very loud voice when it comes to making waves and changes and if nothing else, they've certainly got the discussion rolling on this one! After being vegetarian for nearly 20 years, I personally have no desire at all to eat chicken, no matter where it came from, though I imagine that there would be a market for such a product, and the vegetarians at PETA seem to think it would be ok to eat it.
Scientists say it's a question of "when", not "if" test-tube meat becomes a reality. So, will you be lining up to buy it? And, if you did, would you still consider yourself a vegetarian?
News Link: In search of a Test Tube Hamburger
PETA link: PETA Offers $1 Million Reward to First to Make In Vitro Meat
Photo courtesy Stock.chng
Comments
I certainly wouldn’t eat it, but I would support those that chose to eat that over killing live chickens for their meat. I don’t think the question is would a vegetarian eat it, but would a carnivore eat it?
I think omnivores would happily eat it, and might not even know the difference. I believe that cloned meat isn’t labeled any differently on the shelves, though I imagine if this in vitro meat were marketed as “vegetarian safe”, it would have to be labeled differently. Amazing how this used to be a philosophical thought experiment, and now it’s a real ethical question….
To me, it’s still meat and because I am a vegetarian for health reasons as well as the other long list of reasons you already cited.
As James commented though, if it passes as ‘real meat’ to an omnivore, then so much the better. I would be able to actually cook it and serve it at home to my meat-eating friends and family, something I only do now with completely organic and locally sourced meats. I would think the price could be more reasonable too ?
Let’s face it, there is no way anyone can convince the 90% of the population who eat meat (maybe more like 95%?) to switch to mock meat products or become vegetarian. This is a good thing: an ethical choice in the matter.
Just my two cents
Whoops, meant to add that I wouldn’t eat it personally at the end of that first sentence …
It’s still meat. The “starter cells” came from an animal source. I wouldn’t eat it.
WHY WOULD ANY VEGETARIAN EVER EAT THAT,
Stem cells are meat.
So what if nothing gets killed for you to eat it?
Still meat.
“in vitro” meat is a joke.
I’m not eating it!!!
I’m not going to be eating it any time soon, but it’s interesting to see PETA’s perspective on the issue. I wonder what Peter Singer (Princeton ethicist and author of “Animal Liberation”) would think?
I eat meat, but there’s no way I’d eat that. I have to say it sounds disgusting. I don’t eat processed foods, and this sounds about as unnatural as you can get. Yuck!
If people are ok with having a test tube baby, why wouldn’t they be ok with test tube meat? I’d try it, I’m only a veggeisaurus because of animal rights.
i would never eat test tube meat, for ethical reasons, it’s disgusting. most of us are vegans/vegetarians because of the deplorable conditions animals live and die under. we don’t miss meat, we don’t want it. i am very, very disappointed in peta.
i would love people who wont give up meant to have alternatives , so they would stop farming , growing and killing animals for food .. tho i might be tempted, i dont think i would eat it … kudos to peta if it will help to stop the slaughter
Kathleen – Can you explain why you wouldn’t eat it for ethical reasons? It seems like you misunderstood the story – no animals would be living OR dying! I don’t miss meat nor do I want it, but isn’t growing tissue better than the deplorable conditions we all know about?
I do all of the cooking in my home for my boyfriend who is a vegetarian. If I told him that I bought test tube meat, he would send me packing with the test tube meat.
i wouldnt eat it. Its too messed with for me. I dont think that labs should do this. I think it will only lead to more health issues.
like I would trust the FDA to OK test tube meat for the general consumption? NOT!! I am a veggie for a multitude of reasons, why would I put processed “meat? in my body just because it can be made. It will be somewhat kinder, but not necessarily safer or better to eat. Not for me, ever.
As an ethical vegan, I’d rather have people eat in vitro grown meat, than mean “gained” from a sentient being.
But if you say “If people are ok with having a test tube baby, why wouldn’t they be ok with test tube meat? ” – that just makes me wonder even more about wat concern me about lab meat.
If we could grow human meat for “ethically correct cannibalism”(anyone here tried “hufu” by the way – the fake human meat?) – how ethically correct would that be?
What we have to also fight as ethical vegans/vegetarians is the MERE IDEA, that animal flesh is a food. Especially if it is seen as an essential food. Or something, that we have a right to consume. Because as long as thsi way of thinking persists, animals will be abused. Treated no different than objects and exploited in capitalistic ways.
Lab grown meat will NOT be cheaper than the mass produced meat of today. At leat not for a long time.
And how environmentally friendly will it be?
I bet its production involves a lot of energy. Especially since one muss first isolate amino acids for the base.
That means, or a long time at least, this type of meat will be a luxury good. And only help support the notion, that having “a good piece of meat on the plate” is a sign of wealth.
Interesting points you make, Beret.
So far, no one has said this is a good thing and they will happily eat it – neither omnivores nor vegetarian!
NEVER!!!! I am a vegetarian mostly for religious and health reasons. I have been so for a couple of years. I do not even dream of eating meat any longer. The thought of eating meat, any meat is nauseating to me now.
I don’t care if its in a lab, I still wouldn’t touch it. I’d rather buy free-range, organic, cruelty-free meat at a higher price when carnivores come over. I agree that it would probably suck up a lot of energy for the science involved. I wouldn’t eat it, and I doubt my hippie family would touch it, either.
I was really surprised when I heard PETA was giving 1 million to the person who creates this test-tube meat. It’s a sort of controversial way to spend donations, don’t you think?
I’ve been vegetarian for 13 years and the thought of eating meat, ANY meat, is unappetizing to me. However, for the sake of the planet & animals, I’d love to see meat-eaters take to test-tube meat… though I have my doubts they would. Seems like they just don’t care enough about the environment or animal rights, hence they’re diet choice.
It looks like I agree with most of the people who’ve commented so far. I wouldn’t eat it myself, but it would be great if it could replace most of the animal products currently consumed by non-vegetarians. I’ve been a vegetarian for a number of years, and I have no desire to go back to eating meat, even if it comes from a “non-living” source. I also avoid GMO corn, soy, and all other Frankenfoods.
I wouldn’t eat this frankenmeat. For one thing, it’s still meat. For another, substitutes for real food have a rotten track record and I’d wait until all the class action suits are settled. Finally, isn’t this how dog food is made?
I personally feel that “test tube meat”, while slightly better than “real meat” it’s still meat, therefore, I wouldn’t eat it! I’m a vegan, and the thought of eating meat, let alone something grown in a lab, is seriously disgusting. Finally, wouldn’t it take much more energy to produce a small piece of test tube meat that a piece of steak? When I cook for my family (they’re omnivores) I would take the street meat any day.
wow! its great to see so many comments on this rather touchy subject. As a chef, devoted foodie, and veggie of 10 years- I can honest say that I miss the taste of meat…but thats it, and most of the time, when I do crave something- the mock meats (seitan, tempeh, etc.) completely satisfy me (and my meateating dinner guests)but I would never, never consume a test tube meat. cells are cells. And those kinda cells arent allowed in my house. Does anyone else feel slightly scared by the creation of lab meat? I do. I feel like I am in a scifi movie.
I would never eat test tube meat.
I really miss fish and I mainly don’t eat fish because of overfishing of the oceans and the mercury levels. So I would probably try some fish. Turkey is another thing I really miss, that I would probably eat. Maybe I’d try chicken, but that’s getting a little iffy. Just the though of beef and pork make me want to throw up. I don’t think I could ever eat that again. Plus, I love the added health benefits that come from not eating red meat.
Veggies have changed my life and my health for better so I wouldn’t eat test-tube meat . With time It’s antinatural to eat meat and test tube is meat after all. Anyway, I understand the risky move of PETA: “If you can’t convince millions of people to go vegetarian/vegan, then go for other alternatives”.
Personally I would like to see everyone stop eating meat.