Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Pork In A Petrie Dish

Yes, you read correctly.  *shudders*

I was going to say vegans and vegetarians 'move along', but even your food has GMO's (soy).  So this might get your thinking, too.

I'd like you to read this article from the CBC on how scientists are attempting to produce pork in labs.  I have a million thoughts about this article.  I know it's nothing new, as GMO's are swiftly gaining ground.  More than we realize.

The article, thankfully, looks at both positive and negative attributes to this.  Though, I'm not even sure I agree with the positive.  They start to say fish stem cells could be used to replicate omega 3 fatty acids.  Don't replicate the cells, just EAT THE DAMN FISH.  *sigh*  (Sorry, you can see the issues I'm having with this whole.. fake food thing).

Also from the article, "You could possibly design a hamburger that prevents heart attacks instead of causing them".  Then you know what?  Don't eat 5 hamburgers a week! *sighs again*

Haha... none of the researchers have eaten the lab meat yet.  I can't imagine why.  My anger and frustration are caused by this:  Replicated meat (or any food, for that fact) made in a laboratory can NOT be good for us.  It will *never* contain the complete nutritional value we get from eating these foods.  Regardless of how we're starting to condition ourselves as a society ("meat is bad, causes high cholesterol", etc), eating these foods is good, but only in moderation.  When you're able, eat organic.  Omnivores/carnivores: get to know your local abattoir.  *Know* where your food is coming from.  Get your meats, vegetables and even dairy at your local farmers market (I'll get into the whole 'eat local' rant another time)  Don't be afraid to ask questions  :)

The article continues to say, "If it proves possible, experts say growing meat in laboratories instead of raising animals on farmland would do wonders for the environment.".  I highly disagree.  Omitting animals out of our eco system can have grave results.  Yes, the expert who quoted that could be right; it would reduce greenhouse gases, but it doesn't expand how it affects the rest of us.  It's a circle; man depends on animal, depends on crops (feeding), relies on man, relies on... well.. you get it.  


The only positive I can agree with in the article, is that it may alleviate world hunger.  But if some of us aren't willing to feed it to ourselves, how can we justify feeding it to someone else?


This article struck a nerve because yes, I know science is advancing and I know these things are going to happen.  It scares the crap out of me, but anyways.  My fear stems from legislation.  I'm afraid our governments won't label GMO's (they get away with so much already).  We have to know what we're putting in our bodies.  We deserve to know where our food comes from.  


The article closes with, I think, a very (twisted) humourous quote, "As long as it's cheap enough....I can't see any reason people wouldn't eat it."  The geneticist continues to say, "If you look at sausages and other things people are willing to eat these days, this should not be a big problem."  Oh... how I wonder if he had a snide look on his face when he was saying that.  



5 comments:

Bix said...

It doesn't appeal to me. If there was nothing else to eat I'd have no choice. But I hope there will always be something else to eat.

Perovskia said...

Amen to that, Bix. We will always have our backyard gardens, yes? :)

hydra said...

We are friends with the local butcher. We even knew the name of our Xmas turkey!

Perovskia said...

lol. That's awesome :) But do you know what your turkey ate the previous year? Where he (hopefully) got to run around? :)

Perovskia said...

Bix... if all your choices of meat were 'fake', would you still eat it (as you say) or do you think you'd turn vegetarian?

Are the nutrients assimilated in that meat, better or worse than the nutrients we can gain somewhere else? (i.e that particular protein, etc)

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