Legislators there and in several other states want to restrict the manufacture or sale of meat made in a laboratory, even though it barely exists. The space industry disagrees.

Legislators there and in several other states want to restrict the manufacture or sale of meat made in a laboratory, even though it barely exists. The space industry disagrees.

Lab grown meat.

It sounds like a plotline from a sci-fi movie about test-tube chicken fingers, but it’s a real thing.

Start-up companies around the world are competing to develop technologies for producing chicken, beef, salmon and other options without the need to raise and slaughter animals. China has made the development of the industry a priority. In the United States, the Department of Agriculture has given initial blessings to two producers.

Now, a measure in Florida that would ban sales of laboratory-grown meat has gained widespread attention beyond state borders. The bill, which is advancing through the Florida Legislature, would make the sale or manufacture of lab-grown meat a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000. It’s one of a half-dozen similar measures in Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia and elsewhere.

Opponents of lab-grown meat include beef and poultry associations worried that laboratory-made hamburgers or chicken nuggets could cut into their business.

Non-paywall link

  • Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works
    461·
    4 months ago

    I’m stumped on why this is an issue. I mean, apart from the agricultural industries, I don’t see why anyone can be against this.

      • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
        172·
        4 months ago

        I just recently learned that the beef industry literally has an online troll farm of >20,000 paid “MBA” (Masters of Beef Advocacy) graduates. It certainly goes against their self-interest no differently than oil opposing electric cars.

        Edit: For the doubters.

        • Stovetop@lemmy.world
          10·
          4 months ago

          Well I can see why! No matter what lab-grown meat has to offer, you just can’t beat the taste of freshly seared grass-fed steak on a charcoal grill. And the more the cow suffered before its death, the better it tastes! Ain’t nothing more American than that. No woke lab full of so-called “scientists” (i.e. agents serving the liberal agenda) can match that!

          So next time you’re at the polling station and some socialist put a measure on the ballot to regulate your local cattle industry that provides thousands of appropriately-paid jobs to America’s youth (free from union oppression, of course) because of “the environment” or “child labor laws”, think again!

          • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
            7·
            4 months ago

            Too right about that! Plus I just so happened to hear that Free Range Freedom Ranch promises to deliver the tastiest, most healthiest non-atherosclerotic-inducing, ANTI-Cancer ™ Beef Patties in the whole Freedom-Lubbin 'Merica! Shucks, imagine that!

      • Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works
        7·
        4 months ago

        But are they so powerful that they are influencing legislation to this degree? I wouldn’t be surprised if the answer was yes, but I feel like there have to be other groups against it. Is there a religious angle? Do people just think it’s icky? I’m genuinely curious.

        • Pretzilla@lemmy.world
          151·
          4 months ago

          Pure capitalism, institutionalized corruption.

          It’s only a few thousand to purchase your very own member of US congress.

          Probably only a few hundred or a nice dinner or a junket to the strip club to buy a state rep or senator.

          Strip club extra action: feed them drinks and get some pictures for some bonus kompromat.

        • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
          102·
          4 months ago

          its always money, and in this case also precedent.

          other red-neck, anti-human states can then follow whatever florida does to prevent the free market from correcting for animal torture.

          money

          • Sodis@feddit.de
            1·
            4 months ago

            They can still have business, just not in the animal sector. Lab grown meat will still need nutrients to grow.

    • PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
      9·
      4 months ago

      If you are able to remember when GMO crops were shiny and new, you may also remember Jenny McCarthy types raising a stink about “frankenfood”

      Basically mass hysteria about how unnaturally made food will give everyone cancer and four arms all in the wrong places and a third eye

    • olutukko@lemmy.world
      4·
      4 months ago

      Meat and dairy industries are huge and those people really don’t want their businness to go extinct

    • spider@lemmy.nz
      8·
      4 months ago

      Actually they are f**king off, so to speak, by wasting time on things like this that almost no one cares about, instead of the property insurance crisis, etc.

  • Valen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    26·
    4 months ago

    I really want to be able to buy lab grown meat. I want it to be cheaper to grow meat in a lab than raise a cow/chicken and then slaughter it. It is ethically the right thing, as it reduces suffering.

    • SupraMario@lemmy.world
      5·
      4 months ago

      I want it more so because of the price and that they could literally make the best cuts since it’s engineered. No more getting a cut with a chunk of gristle hidden in the middle of the steak, just perfect cuts ever time.

    • PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
      2·
      4 months ago

      Ok is this actually a thing or is everyone just meming on how hotdogs are the sandwhiches of meat where you can basically just use whatever you want.

      There’s some home recipes you can go for and it’s some pretty dope stuff, from what I’ve seen ground beef and pork are the two biggest bases for “how the sausage gets made”

      • rdyoung@lemmy.world
        41·
        4 months ago

        This is actually a thing. The cheapest hot dogs are basically (but hopefully not literally anymore) compromised of the meat that was left on the floor after processing cows, pigs, etc. It’s been a trope for a long time that they just sweep up the floor and turn it into hot dogs.

        The above said there are really good brands out there like Nathan’s and some others that are all beef and not from “the floor”. If you have a Costco membership you probably know about their Kirkland dogs, those are huge and really good.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    163·
    4 months ago

    Of course they don’t. The cruelty for them is always the point, whether it’s humans or animals.

  • SeaJ@lemm.ee
    12·
    4 months ago

    Sounds like something those free market Republicans would love to do.

    • buzz86us@lemmy.world
      3·
      4 months ago

      Yeah I don’t understand why people are upset over it… I mean if you’re going to grow meat might as well be prime cuts

  • TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world
    6·
    4 months ago

    Why are republicans so against the free market? They have codified car dealership business model into law too, and are ok with monopolies like

  • olutukko@lemmy.world
    4·
    4 months ago

    It’s pretty much like brewing beer. It may sound a bit odd since it’s a new thing, but banning it would be just plain stupid