Artificial chicken meat, the latest gamble in American synthetic biology

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Artificial chicken meat is successfully proclaimed by an American synthetic biology startup . Yet another gamble against nature, in the absurd logic of‘Franken-food‘.

If the rest of the globe had the environmental impact of the United States of America, it would take six Earths to sustain it. U.S. research therefore turns to new planets for colonization, on the one hand. And to synthetic biology (1) on the other, under the illusion that we can reproduce the cycles of nature in the laboratory.

March 15, 2017
Memphis Meat
, (2) a California startup , announced that it is able to produce artificial poultry meat. Not spit-roasted chickens or turkeys for Thanksgiving. But protein slurries that are somehow reminiscent of chicken and duck, with flavors and densities to be molded to measure.

As early as February 2016, the same company had developed the first beef-inspired meatballs, and it is confident of achieving economies of scale soon. With a view to bringing artificial meats to market at competitive prices within the next four years.

It is not about

‘meat sounding’

(i.e., plant-based alternatives to meat preparations) unfortunately. In fact, the technology is based on the reproduction of animal cells by ‘in vitro’ cultures, with the support of enzymes and other stratagems.

It is thus a leap of faith into an area of peculiar sensitivities. From the point of view of food safety, which is still doubtful in relation to the long-term effects of consuming GMO plant derivatives. (3) And from that of bioethics, with respect to which the cloning of animals is already critical, to say the least.

Cui prodest?

Dario Dongo

Notes

(1) On the subject, see the appropriate chapter of the free ebook ‘GMO the Big Scam,’ at https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/ogm-la-grande-truffa/

(2) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5674c0c22399a3a13cbc3af2/t/58c94becff7c508dcd28b8ff/1489587181184/Memphis+Meats+-+Press+Release+15+Mar+2017+Final.pdf

(3) See footnote 1

Dario Dongo
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Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.