Which is better for you: 'Real' meat or 'fake' meat? - Carolyn Beans

Explore the differences between farmed meat, plant-based meat, and lab-grown meat, and find out which is best for you and the planet.

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In 2021, a survey of over 1,000 Americans found that nearly two-thirds had eaten plant-based meat alternatives in the past year. Many cited potential health and environmental benefits as their motivation. But are these alternative meats actually better for us and the planet? Carolyn Beans investigates the differences between farmed meat, plant-based meat, and lab-grown meat.

Lesson by Carolyn Beans, directed by Laura Jayne Hodkin.

This video made possible in collaboration with Speed & Scale

A special thanks to Raychel Santo and Keeve Nachman who provided information and insights for the development of this video.

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[jy]

To the animators that worked on this video, wonderful design choice on the lab grown meat

[alexandradelliou]

Can we say a big congrats to the animators? This video was SO fun to watch!
From the artstyle, to the the colors and people's body language, it was like watching a cartoon episode. Bravo 👏👏

[jackjensen]

My only additions to the health side of things are that 1) some plant-based meats are more processed than others, so you can go for a pure veggie patty over beyond/impossible if sodium is a concern. And 2) meat from livestock risks contamination from antibiotics, hormones, and pathogens found in blood, pus, feces, and other bodily fluids during their processing

[asykarcompany]

Mushroom's meat might be the alternate to replace all of them. It's easy to grow and has similar tension feel like farm meat.

[RandyLy]

Hi, environmental engineer here! It's fantastic to see discussions like these gaining traction. The shift towards plant-based and lab-grown meats is undoubtedly intriguing, driven by considerations for both personal health and the environment.
From my perspective, the "real" versus "fake" meat debate isn't just about taste or convenience, but also about the broader consequences for our planet. Traditional livestock farming has significant environmental implications, including deforestation, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Embracing plant-based alternatives can potentially reduce these burdens and pave the way for a more sustainable food future. However, as we delve into this conversation, it's crucial to consider a holistic view. Life cycle assessments comparing the environmental impacts of different meats are essential. While plant-based and lab-grown options can offer remarkable benefits, they still have their own set of challenges, such as processing methods, resource use, and waste management. Ultimately, our choices matter.

[micahbush]

Or we could go with non-meat protein sources that stand on their own, like falafel or tempeh.

At any rate, when lab-grown meat becomes commercially viable, I hope it's given names like Vitro-Veal, Petri-Pork, Lab-Lamb, and Tub-Turkey.

[umairiscool]

Wow I have a debate topic just on this in my school and I was scrolling through my notification and saw that TED Ed uploaded a new video and when I saw that topic I was estatic. Thanks Ted. It will really help me. :)

[jennyclairedavies]

After reading ultra processed people by Chris van Tulleken, I wonder if there really is an overall health benefit of mostly ultra processed plant based meats vs meat. Would it not be better to stick to less processed proteins and fats like tofu, tempeh, and legumes?

[HarrisonLuiEKYiss]

Chapters and timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:25 Contestants
0:28 Farmed Meat
0:45 Plant-Based Meat
1:42 Lab-Grown Meat
2:12 Nutritional Considerations
3:15 Environmental Impacts
4:28 Best Option

[boone]

Plant base food still can cause environmental concerns. For example, rainforests are being cut down in order to farm and grow specific crops. This isn't the only reason, mind you, but it is one of them. Next, farms sometimes use chemicals to prevent bugs and parasites. These chemicals can also run off to water ways and other environmental habitats.

Simply put, both have their pros and cons. This clip does an okay job at explaining these pros and cons but leaves out some context or other key information in order to persuade an opinion. It is difficult to get past personal opinions or biases. Therefore, it is important to seek multiple resources to get a bigger picture.

[luuchoo]

Very interesting topic and well presented, as always. I’m so glad I watch these videos

[deeRay]

I skip my 1 meat based meal a day, not bc i watched this video... but bc i'm poor.

[amandadangerfieldpiano]

Guess what? You can make your own salt- and oil-free bean or lentil burgers.

[justindie]

This has got to be my favorite TED-Ed animation, and I've seen 100's of TED-Eds, well done <3

[TRDPaul]

I've heard humans are far better at absorbing animal proteins than plant proteins so even if the products contain the same amount you will actually be getting less protein from the same volume of food so you will need to eat more

[ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

0:40 That bunny said, "Not me, girl!" 😂😂😂

[pheonix]

- The video's question is never answered regarding nutrition.
- Where are the references for the video's claims?
- The info presented is over-simplified and avoids answering the numerous criticisms of plant-based.

[userMB]

I wish Tofu en Tempeh would be added to the comparison. I try to limit my intake of animal products to 1 meal a week because i'm not entirely sold on the fact that one can life a healthier life just being vegan. We have been eaten animal products for tens of thousands of years and it seems risky to be completely vegan at a young age.
However we need to do something for better health, climate animal welfare, so i hope the meat alternatives keep getting healthier and tastier.

[somerandomguy___]

I believe, in essence, that if you want to eat something other than meat (say you are a vegan for example like it is the case for most people eating "mock meats") then you should try and eat a meal that is naturally plant based, I.e. you make it good and healthy without trying to mimmick meat because its more natural and coincidentally, doesn't have those health risks.

[djmoulton]

This is a really poor comparison. Any processed food, including plant based, is much poorer than whole plant based food. Why wasn't this included in your comparison?