Meat is an essential part of our diet. Meat and poultry supply our bodies with protein, as well as other nutrients to make our bodies strong and healthy. Eating a decent amount of meat helps our bodies grow; that is why it is often included in various types of diet. Most of us have been eating meat ever since we were kids, and also, meat is among the primary food of humans thousands of years ago. With this said, we can say that eating meat has been a significant part of human lives.
However, there are some people who are not comfortable eating meat. Others are also against the idea of eating meat, mainly because of the process behind its production. We all know that meat came from animals, wherein they are killed for food. Vegans are known for their belief in using animal-free alternatives; they are against all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals, which includes killing them for food. Because of this, vegans developed and used other alternatives to prevent such acts.
Interestingly, there are other ways to eat meat without killing an animal. Lab-grown meats have already been made possible by scientists. This major scientific breakthrough has opened doors to food production in the future. However, lab-grown meat is not yet available in the market, mainly because of the various factors needed to be considered. In this article, we will learn more about lab-grown meats and other information related to them.
What is a Lab-Grown Meat
From the name itself, lab-grown meat is a form of meat created inside a lab. It is an alternative way of producing meat since it does not require growing and killing animals, which is the usual method. Lab-grown meat was just a recent invention – developed in 2013. It is also known for other names, such as cultured, in vitro, cell-based, and cultivated meat, but lab-grown meat seems to be the most catchy.
Lab-grown or cultured meat is developed in a lab with the help of animal cells and cultured medium – making it a form of cellular agriculture. Scientists developed lab-grown meats with the same tissue engineering used in creating regenerative medicines. The end-product showcases an excellent alternative to organic meat, which requires growing and killings animals. Because of this, cultured meat is being advocated by various organizations worldwide, mainly because of its incredible potential.
As mentioned earlier, lab-grown meat was invented in 2013 by a professor at Maastricht University named Mark Post. Post is the pioneer of cultured meat since he was the first person who proved the possibility of creating meat within a lab. He developed the first burger patty from cells, wherein it was made up of roughly 20,000 muscle strands. After his creation of the lab-grown meat, it didn’t take long for it to gain recognition around the globe. However, since this invention is still currently being developed, many factors are considered before it becomes totally welcomed in the public market.
Is Lab-Grown Meat Safe To Eat
Eating traditional meat is an important part of our diet, especially when taken in moderation. But it still has various health threats a person consumed too much. On the other hand, lab-grown meat is generally safe. There is no concrete evidence stating that this type of meat would have negative effects on our bodies. In addition to this, the risk of getting diseases is relatively lower compared to conventional meat since lab-grown meat is considered to be much cleaner than its organic counterpart.
However, various factors are still in consideration when it comes to eating lab-grown meat. There hasn’t been any extensive research about the effect of eating lab-grown meat on the body. Since cultured meat is made from animal cells, the structure is far different and more complicated than traditional meat. This means that further study should be made to come up with a conclusion on whether lab-grown meat is safe for consumption. Consuming genetically engineered food could cause various effects in our bodies, which would require thorough research. Such factors are still being reviewed and studied by various organizations, including the FDA.