Would you reduce your meat consumption if lab-grown meat or meat alternatives were cheaper and tasted good? Why or why not?

Question

MARAGARET · Accepted Answer

"I've phased out meat over the past few years as products from companies like Impossible and Beyond Meat and Field Roast continue to get better. Before that, pretty much all meat alternatives were soy-based, and I'm mildly allergic to soy so things like tofu and most of, say, Gardein's products weren't really an option. I still eat meat very occasionally (usually chicken breast or tuna) but vegan-friendly products have gotten good enough now that at least 9 out of every 10 of my meals are completely plant-based. I think they'll continue to improve over the next few years to the point that even if lab-grown "real" meat were an option I probably wouldn't bother with it, though I want to be clear I have zero ethical issues with lab-grown meat and I think it's a good idea worth pursuing. "

Kylie · Answer

No because I love steak. Steak comes from cattle. If we get rid of the need for meat. We would get rid of cattle and that would be mean. To kill off a whole species to satisfy a bunch of people who hate cattle.

KAROLYN · Answer

No. I would always pick real meat from animals over lab-grown meat. I have a visceral dislike of fake foods.

Maria-Liisa · Answer

Probably yes

Avi · Answer

Yeah probably in don't eat much meat anyway so it shouldn't be that hard to eat less

Fredrikke · Answer

"Yeah, of course. That's asking "if you had the choice to be a nicer and better person without any cost to yourself would you do it?" "

Ciler · Answer

No. I like eating dead animals, ive been doing it all my life.  Frankly I think people have no fucking idea what theyre talking about when they say super processed food is better for them or the environment. Anyways, your plant based meat alternative needs to be fertilised with products derived from oil and other chemicals or cow shit. Sooo.......

Ely · Answer

Yeah i already do at burger king. Impossible burger tadtes better

Kai · Answer

For some things, sure. I love soy sausage and beyond sausage. I don't know that I'd be okay giving up other kinds of meat though. Brisket, short ribs, skirt steak, duck breast, lamb belly, beef bacon....those arengoing to be really hard to fake well.

Hilbert · Answer

Yes, I've had a veggie burger before and it tasted good, I would certainly eat better-tasting, less expensive substitutes

LAKEISHA · Answer

Yes. I even had the Burger King fake meat burger and it was pretty good. I could still get a hint of the soy protein because of the burgers I had back in school, but quite tasty and certainly had the right texture. Besides, it would also help with factory farming and global warming. Anyone who wouldn't do it should be questioned.

Gillian · Answer

If it was identical to meat except for the fact it wasn't from an animal and had no more side affects than meat usually does than yes. But then what do we do with all the extra animals we've brought in with the hopes of eating? What happens to people who rely on the meat industry as their income? Do we now terminate all the genetically selected animals that propably couldn't survive in the wild?

Iinu · Answer

Meat

Julianna · Answer

If its also good for me, then yes. If it aint, im sticking to the real stuff.

Mari-Hannele · Answer

"I would reduce my meat consumption if lab-grown meats were more expensive and tasted good. Edit to answer the "why or why not" not part: because I like meat but I'm not a monster. "

zaineb · Answer

Yes definitely

Brana · Answer

No meat tastes too good

Jessika Meister · Answer

Definitely, as long as it still has zero carbs. I'd pay twice as much for that.

Anna Austerlitz · Answer

Only after 25 year longitudinal studies to confirm that they caused no harm. So basically no - I'll be dead by then.

Jessika · Answer

I would eat it for the taste/feel of eating meat. Beyond Meat is delicious and I'm sure even better versions will come out in the future.  I might not completely switch over to meat alternatives unless they had the same nutritional value as real meat. Eating meat gets you all your essential amino acids (which is why most vegetarians and vegans have to plan their diets accordingly)

Candice · Answer

I'm going to go against the grain here and say no, probably not. I've lived the majority of my life in Montana and grown up with classmates whose families owned and operated ranches. They are honest, hard-working people who are just trying to make a living. I've never known a rancher to be cruel to their animals, and I'd rather support someone from my community than a giant lab-corporation.

Elka · Answer

Depends on availability but probably

MERLENE · Answer

People have been vegetarian for a long time without needing food grown in a lab  I just don't see the necessity for pseudo-meat. It seems like one of those situations with a simple answer that was made more complicated than it needed to be.

siham · Answer

i just would not eat any cause both taste like garbage

SHAKITA · Answer

"Not at all... Meat just tastes too good... And the idea that i'm eating some rip off version of meat sounds shitty to me. And bruh humans ain't omnivorous for nothing. Why would you reduce meat consumption in the first place ? (Don't bring up the "maltreated animals" argument, there are ways around this that do not involve reducing meat consumption) EDIT: wait why did people dislike this comment ? Did i say anything THAT controversial ? "

maybrit · Answer

Never, I would stick to meat because artificial meat would just not be the same, also I would rather support farmers who are just getting by financially rather than a multi million dollar business that mass produces artificial meat in a laboratory.

PRICILLA · Answer

Absolutely, but I wouldn't entirely remove it from my diet. I still need protein and lab-grown meat won't help as much with that.

Kristine · Answer

I'd go plantbased or pescetarian than eating that cancer, It feels disgusting to me. Like growing a tumor in a lab.

hadil · Answer

Nope, I don't like meat substitutes.

Katrin Grunwald · Answer

As long as protein and fat content remain unchanged. I'm not switching from real chicken to Beyond Chicken(tm) if there is less protein per ounce in the latter.

Antje Schroder · Answer

I'm against labouriwment for food. As a matter of life and death reasons

Jordon · Answer

No. I don't mind meat substitutes or meat. I'll eat either. But I wouldn't purposefully seek out meat alternatives because if I'm being honest (and please don't take this as me being rude to you): I don't care. It does not bother me that animals are slaughtered. It does not matter to me how they're raised. I don't feel any sort of guilt or remorse. Sorry. :/

Ainomaija · Answer

Not really. It's been my general experience that any sort of processed food is going to be worse for you health wise. Instead I try to buy my meat from local farms, it's more expensive, but I know the animals were raised well and honestly the meat tastes a lot better.

Andrea Fruehauf · Answer

Yes because cow cute but too good to not consume

Netti · Answer

meat alternatives already taste good. people just don't give them a chance because 1. they're expensive and 2. god forbid they ever get accused of being a vegan. i honestly prefer Beyond Meat burgers to regular burgers. they're made with pea protein and good af. i'm supposed to limit my red meat intake anyways due to it possibly being a trigger for my migraines.

TIARA · Answer

Of course not, I get high off of eating the dead remains of animals. It's a power thing, y'know, haha stupid animals I'm eating you.  Or maybe that's just what the vegans think I'd say

Goldy · Answer

yes, i want meat straight from the cow, or whatever livestock animal involved

Nasibe · Answer

I already have somewhat, but yeah sure.

Myrtia · Answer

"I eat meat alternatives because I think they taste good like the quorn items and seitan.  I don't eat mammal and fish because I don't find it tastes good so lab grown meat has no appeal to me. I also would need to know the carbon footprint. Less meat is good but I gave up poultry this year, the only meat I ate, for a challenge. I'd rather animals be treated better and given better lives than just "Lab meat!" as the solution. It should be part of it. Even if I don't eat again my pets are obligate carnivores so it is something I have wondered. Something has to die for them to live. "

Angkhana · Answer

Lab grown meat I am fine with. If they were cheaper I would eat them instead. But I would much prefer real meat over any alternatives any day of the weak.

Lola · Answer

If they're healthy for you and are proven to have no long-term effects, then probably

Felix Fisher · Answer

I dont know if I trust it. It's like the way people used to think margerine was healthier than butter before we learned about trans fats.

REITA · Answer

Nope. I get an erotic thrill out of knowing how many animals died for my meal.

Devonne · Answer

if it tastes the same, I eat mostly meat and rice at college. If it tastes similar I would buy it.

Karam · Answer

Lab grown assuming it's fake and not a lab grown cow or some crap I would start eating meat again

Emmery · Answer

Quorn southern fried nuggets are really good! Mmmmm mould

Percival · Answer

Depends on the composition. If it's full of chemicals then it's going to be a hard pass from me.  I already try to limit my consumption anyway, not more than 5 times a week, and fill the blanks with other high protein sources, eggs, fish etc

Korry · Answer

Is it just as healthy? Then yes. Cheaper and tasty? I am not seeing a reason NOT to eat it.

ANGILA · Answer

Personally I think lab grown meat is the next step in the food industry. Once it becomes proven to be more sustainable than actually killing a cow or chicken I'm pretty sure slaughtering animals for food will become illegal To answer your question though. I've been eating chicken ramen for lunch and dinner everyday for the past 2 years so... I'll eat whatever is cheaper no matter what

Sevinc · Answer

"If they had the same taste and texture then yes. But as a person with allergies I can assure you that most "alternative" foods rarely have the same taste and texture as the original and they even more rarely even taste good. So if they can do that then yeah I'd switch no problem "

Marena · Answer

I already tried a meat alternative burger at A&W's once. Tasted pretty close, but was pretty barebones.

Osmund · Answer

No. I don't trust in the quality or process. And I do not believe that a few mega corps further controlling and centralizing the food system is a good thing. Especially since this is a product I can see making the lives of farmers, particularly small ones, more difficult.

Hendrik · Answer

I think I would. It would depend on if it had the same nutrition.

hejdi · Answer

I'm not sure exactly what the question means. Id eat lab-grown meat if it tasted good and was cheaper, yes.

Inger-Mari · Answer

No chance, natural will always be best quality (under certain conditions of course).

BREANA · Answer

If.. The quality, the texture, and the nutrition were the same, sure.

Darci · Answer

Yep. My only real thing is taste and what it's made of. If it exists, tastes good, satisfies my hunger then yes, i will gladly not buy non-lab grown meat. Even if there was *something* lost in the switch, like say taste, but it's like sooo close, then that's still fine. Meat production kinda fucks a lot of shit up and I don't need real beef THAT bad. Plenty of other shit I can eat as well as would gladly sign up to eat meat not produced in a factory of authentic-beef provided there was enjoyment to the taste and a satisfaction to eating it.

Manija · Answer

Yeah I mean why would someone pick an option that has more consequences if the outcome is the same?

razija · Answer

Increase consumption. Less guilt.

Nicole Muller · Answer

I would reduce meat consumption but not cut it out entirely. Lab grown hamburger, or 'chicken' chunks for a stir fry? Sure. But grilled NY strip steak? Bring me a slice of Bessie.

Simone Boehm · Answer

"I can chip in a bit here with some context. My flat mate is currently using stem cells harvested from pigs at the slaughter house to grow meat. He has been relatively successful. Currently he can only grow specific cells which are all muscular. In future he wants to expand to try to incorporate fat as to get some flavor.  His main career goal however, is to develop the technique where he can harvest the stem cells from live pigs (eventually other animals) in a non invasive way.  That way animal rights is kept to a maximum, lead a full life and it'll drastically lower animals in industry. While also keeping "real" meat opposed to synthetic or alternative meats.  Like I said above though, the biggest obstacle at the moment is fat introduction "

Waverley · Answer

Those sound like reasons to eat more of it.

Liliya · Answer

Yes, so long as they've been proven to be not harmful. Because why not then?

Janeen · Answer

Yep. Boils down to cost for me. As long as it's affordable I'll give 'er a go.

SHERY · Answer

As long as they're not harmful.

Gabriele Diederich · Answer

I mean, most vegan meats I have tried have ranged from mediocre at best, to bad. If lab-grown meat can taste as good as real meat, then sure. But we're still pretty far from that.

Vivecka · Answer

Look, we stuff ourselves with a lot of artificial shit anyways, so if there was an substitute to meat that is cheaper and greener to manufacture and can possibly be healthier for you and spare animals, then I would probably increase my meat consumption

Fedora · Answer

The thought of artificial meat kinda grosses me out so probably not

Juliane Pfeiffer · Answer

I prefer the real thing

SARITA · Answer

Absolutely yes. I hate that the only way I can eat what I love hurts the environment so much. I'm currently attempting to convert my family to vegetarian meats, but it's not going well. Advice?

DIGNA · Answer

No, can't beat the original

Carole · Answer

it would need to be both - like, beef alternative needs to taste like meat, have the texture of meat, etc... then, if it's cheaper (or comparable) i'd consider it. until then, newp

HALINA · Answer

Definitely. I could sleep easy knowing animals are not being tortured and murdered daily for convenience.

HILDRED · Answer

No thank you. Seems like lab-grown meat would be what leads humanity towards the zombie apocalypse

Ylfa · Answer

I dunno. Depends on whether or not the lab meat is actually cheaper to produce or is price-adjusted by subsidies and/or taxes.

Elfie · Answer

Might take some time getting used to but yes.

IRMGARD · Answer

If it was cheaper than ground beef and tasted as good, I'd probably be eating lab-grown almost exclusively. I eat meat for the sensual pleasure, not the experience of consuming the flesh of dead animals.

miroslava · Answer

"100%. I hardly ever eat meat (due to personal taste-- I'm just really picky), but when I do, it's usually because vegan/vegetarian alternatives are so damn expensive. I can get a huge box of chicken nuggets for $5 that will last at least 3 meals, or a tiny bag of vegan "chicken" nuggets that will last 1 meal. I can't imagine how expensive it is to use vegan products only. "

Sabine Mueller · Answer

Of course - why wouldn't you at that point? Cheaper and tastes good - and it's still meat, even if it's grown in a lab. I mean, I take vitamin tablets made in labs every day...

Ceyda · Answer

I prefer eating artificial food made from mushrooms.

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