Meat, Minus Animals
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-03-07/meat-minus-animals
Long the stuff of science fiction, meat grown in labs is closer to becoming a reality. Scientists are now able to create thin 'slabs' of meat in labs using cells taken from animals. As the world's population and global appetite for meat continue to grow, some see lab-grown meat as a possible way to meet demand. We explore the science behind, and potential uses of, in vitro meat.
Guests
Mark Post
Professor of Vascular Physiology, Maastricht University; Chairman, Dutch Society of Physiology
Michael Specter
staff writer, The New Yorker; author, 'Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives' (Penguin, 2009)
Related Links
Related Video
In this video from Euronews, Dutch scientist Mark Post discusses his hopes that he will be able to produce the world's first test-tube burger later this year. He says it will look and taste identical to a regular quarter-pounder:
Comments
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Hi,
Could you please ask your guest speaker to clarify that too many calories and a sedentary lifestyle lead to Type TWO diabetes, NOT Type ONE diabetes. He mentioned that the fat content, particularly saturated fat, lead to a diagnosis of diabetes.
Thanks,
Renee
Chevy Chase, Md.
Do your guests know if PETA is for or against in vitro meat? I would think they may support it since it would help reduce the number of animals slaughtered.
I am a Geneticist and Ethicist as well as a Muslim Imam. People may wonder if the food is permissible for Muslims or Halal to eat.
This type of meat would be permissible for Muslims.
The overarching principle is "MAS-LA-HA" - public benefit. This type of food could bring great benefit many....
It is benign to the subject of halal or kosher, the core question is food safety. Is the in vitro derived protein healthy for human consumption.
I don't know what a Rabbi might say.
Your Friend, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik,
Dar Al-Hijrah (HE-JE-RAH) Islamic Center in DC area
A few quick comments: A big reason many people have a hard time switching over to a vegetarian diet is because of the connection certain foods have with their culture - in vitro meat demolishes this tie. Our dishes evolved from the animals that exist in certain areas, there's a give and take with the animal, there should be respect and gratitude. If our tastes are pushing us to destroy the planet and leave people hungry we should adjust them, not look for yet another quick fix. This is another way to escape evolving compassion and introduce a possible danger, when self control can offer the same solution for less cost.
I know the prospect of GM Foods is faced by rich and poor nations alike. Question is who do we trust for quality control especially if this is made by for profit corporations. As it stands, in the US corporations are not required to share what they put into our foods, regardless of Fed. regs. Some have been caught puting arsinic in chickens because it increases profits. Often the additives are company secrets which they don't need to reveal.