Environmental meat

[CAG12]

This isnt really a AIBU, im just really interested in getting opinions and different sides of the arguement.

What do people think of the new plant based meats? Im not talking about quorn, more about the 'burgers' that use animal cells (but not the actual animal) to create 'burgers'. So its not a vegetarian alternative, more about the environment. In the UK I dont think they're sold yet, but in the US they have Impossible Burgers.

Would people eat it? What do people think?

To start off, on the face of it id be all for it but I dont think I know enough of either side of the arguement, hence this thread.

Thanks all for reading 🙂

Sorry - the title of this should really be 'environmental meat', but now I dont know how to change it

• [Message from MNHQ: We've edited the title as requested]

I think it’s a great idea and hope it takes off like a rocket. It’s cells grown in a lab to make meat right?

Yeah. Its cells taken from the animal, then cultivated in a lab and grown enough to make a chicken nugget, or a burger etc. So the animal itself isnt used.

I love the idea. I dont know enough about it. For example are the animals hurt when the cells are taken? I'm vegetarian due to animal welfare but have to admit i miss steak!

For example are the animals hurt when the cells are taken?

I assume you only need to take cells from an animal once, or at least very infrequently.

TBH I assumed they'd take the cells from a slaughtered animal anyway.

I don’t particularly trust brand new faddy foods grown in laboratories. Call me crazy. You first.

I’m vege but I don’t think I’d eat it. No issues with the lab grown side though- worked in labs for years and don’t get why people think they are some creepy scary place- anything done is very regulated!

I think different products appeal to different people.

There is no one 'perfect' product, or perfect solution to any problem - and there are a plethora of problems that people seek to solve through vegetarianism, or vegnaism, or reducing meat consumption. Then some people just don't like the taste or texture of meat.

So fo rme, as a vegetarian of many years, this has no appeal. I don't want to eat meat or anything that closely resmbles meat.

I can see it would serve a purpose very well though, for people who like eating meat but don't want so many animals to be farmed / farmed the way they currently are / killed etc.

I think ultimately this is the way that food production will head. Imagine a time in the future where killing an animal to eat will seem very antiquated!

Obviously this will mean that there will be fewer animals overall as we won't need the number we now have for agriculture. Overall I think it will be a good thing and will have the potential to feed everyone, even in places where animal production is problematic for economic or climate related reasons.

I’m with @churchandstate ... you all tuck in and I’ll give it a bit of time and decide later if I’m gonna have one.

Also, if it's cheap and made globally available in the right way, it could be a good way of getting adequate protein to people who lack this in their diets.

That seems very unlikely though. This will be a heavily protected, licensed product, produced and marketed for maximum profit.

Technically we could use human cells could we not?

The technology would be the same I assume, but morally I think itd be a big no to human bugers 😂

And people could eat 'protected species burgers', woolly mammoths and dinosaurs.

As a vegetarian of 30 years (and struggling vegan of one year ) I wouldn't eat this. I don't like the taste and texture of meat and I can't wrap my head round this either regarding my own choices.

However, for meat eaters and sustainability this sounds like the way forward, but I need to do some research as I don't know enough about it.

I think you should change the title to 'lab grown' meat or similar.

The technology would be the same I assume, but morally I think itd be a big no to human bugers

Purely playing Devil's advocate and trying not to think of the cow in the Hitch-Hiker's guide at least humans could give consent. :)

Same, Hands.

I don’t even like the burgers made with beetroot as they look too much like rare meat. I like burgers made with legumes and vegetables.

As a meat eater, I wouldn't eat this. If it was on a menu, I'd rather eat a vegetarian meal than something grown from cells in a lab. It sounds disgusting. I like my meat to be actual meat.

I really like actual vegetable burgers (not quorn) and it’s probably once every couple of years that I eat a steak anyway.

Impossible burgers are entirely plant based.

I’ve had one, they taste remarkably ‘real’. I wouldn’t eat them regularly, as they’re highly processed.

If it reduces harm to animals I'm all for it, however as a vegan I still wouldn't eat it as it doesn't appeal to me.

I'd be willing to try it but I wouldn't make it part of my regular diet. I believe natural food is best with as little processing as possible.

Animals definitely not hurt - it's just like when we do a cheek dna swab for cells.

I mean the cow will be perturbed for a second

My dh is a lifelong veggie for ethical reasons and said he would have no ethical problem eating it but wasn't sure he physically could cope with eating it after so long without it

I'm a flexitarian so bring it the fuck on

Cows are entirely plant-based. They eat nothing else.

(Unless you feed them their ground-up relatives, but that way madness lies.)