How meat alternatives mimic the real thing, according to a scientist | Fast Company

December 2, 2024December 1, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When you bite into a juicy hamburger, slice into the perfect medium-rare steak, or gobble down a plateful of chicken nuggets, your senses are most likely responding to the food’s smell, taste, texture, and color. For a long time, these four attributes set meat apart from other food groups.

But in recent years, food companies have started to focus on the development of meat alternatives. Many people believe that transitioning away from meat-heavy diets can help with environmental sustainability as well as improve their own health.

The two main focuses of research have been on plant-based meat alternatives and lab-grown meat. Both have interesting challenges. Lab-grown meat requires growing animal cells and generating a meat product. Plant-based meat alternatives use plant materials to re-create animal-like structures and flavors.

Lab-grown meat faces bans before it’s even in stores | Fast Company

June 4, 2024June 3, 2024 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Lab-grown meat is not currently available in any U.S. grocery stores or restaurants. If some lawmakers have their way, it never will be.

Earlier this month, both Florida and Alabama banned the sale of cultivated meat and seafood, which is grown from animal cells. In Iowa, the governor signed a bill prohibiting schools from buying lab-grown meat. Federal lawmakers are also looking to restrict it.

I’m a Vegetarian—Will I Eat Lab-Grown Meat? | WIRED

November 27, 2019 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Eschewing meat requires explanation, especially if you were raised an omnivore. Every forkful carries culture and identity in the memory and effort of its preparation. So, on days like Thanksgiving, when vegetarians turn down their family’s lovingly basted golden brown turkey in favor of a Gardein Holiday Roast, a savory loaf of soy protein isolate and vital wheat gluten that comes in a box, the people around them often feel rejected, even judged. Saying no to turkey becomes saying no to tradition, to family. No wonder people turn such baleful eyes on the bloodless lumps of beans and grain brought into their midst.

How The Meat Industry Will Look Like In 20 Years | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

July 26, 2019July 25, 2019 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Over the past few years, countless plant-based meat alternatives have hit the market, and customers’ increased demand for more ethical and environmentally-friendly products are slowly starting to disrupt the meat industry. And according to a new paper, it’s predicted that 20 years from now, the market for vegan meat and lab-grown meat will actually surpass the market for animal-based meat.

In fact, the report predicts that only 40 percent of the meat we eat in 2040 will come from the bodies of animals, while 35 percent will come from lab-grown meat, and the other 25 percent will come from plant-based replacements.