In-Vitro Meat? (cross-posted for veggie input)

[Ignis]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7044251&mesg_id=7044251

[flvegan]

1. I chimed in on your original thread.

Still going with "hell no"

[Ignis]

3. Oops, misreplied. See downthread. (nt)

[Ignis]

2. I'm surprised at the number of Yes votes.

I really thought more people would be grossed-out/scared/put off by in-vitro meat.

I guess there's no weighty ethical argument against it, but I really don't miss the texture of meat, so I don't want the filthy stuff in my mouth. ;)

I'm just trying to figure out whether or not I want it in my fridge, and whether or not I'd be willing to cook it for guests. Frankly, it's hard for me to distance the meat from the source animal, so the idea really creeps me out--even when the source is a test tube.

[flvegan]

5. Honestly, I'm not.

When you consider the frankenfoods people already eat, the idea of them eating this isn't surprising. If it tastes good, people will shovel it into their faces. I don't eat meat, and would rather folks not eat meat for the usual 3 reasons: the animals, the environment and the health of the person eating it. This invitro-meat would likely remove two of those concerns (no idea what sort of environmental impact mass creation of this stuff would have) at least, but I'd still be shunning it for the health reason.

[Elad]

4. I would have no ethical argument against it

but I wouldn't want to eat it anyway.

1) it's unnecessary, as I do just fine (better, actually) on a veggie diet
2) I don't miss meat anymore
3) I think it's a step away from "natural" food

It might be interesting if this becomes widespread though. If it's cheap and easily accessible, I wonder if it will start to replace real meat, forcing real meat to become more of a "gourmet" product. After all, if the government didn't subsidize it, meat would be prohibitively expensive for a lot of people. Could lab-grown meat eventually force real meat prices to reflect their actual cost, and thus dramatically reduce the demand?

No matter what if this stuff is safe to eat and becomes readily available I fail to see how it's a bad thing, from an animal rights perspective.

[Ignis]

6. "force real meat prices to reflect their actual cost"

Wow, that's an idea I hadn't really considered. I suppose there would be a lot of wrangling over farm subsidies, first.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Honestly, I don't think I COULD eat it!

I am so programmed for meat=dead animal that I honestly don't think I could overcome that programming. I even have a problem with meat analogs that are too "real" -- they go in my mouth and I have an immediate "spit-it-out" reflex. I think I am done with meat in this lifetime.

[Ignis]

8. I had that reaction to trying Quorn.

Yeah, Quorn isn't vegan, but I tried a single bite to help a transitional vegetarian gather the courage to do the same. :D

It took a serious combination of willpower and acting skills not to spit it out. Freakishly realistic...from what I can remember.

[CrispyQ]

9. I'm the same with meat analogs.

I wouldn't eat cloned meat, but I hope meat eaters will.