Why lab-grown meat is so controversial

When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned cultivated meat, Reason's Zach Weissmueller visited California labs to try cultivated chicken and salmon and explore the future of this industry.

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A company based in San Francisco just became the first in the world to sell direct to consumers what its founders call "cultivated meat," meaning it didn't originate from an animal that lived on a farm or in a muddy feedlot but from a giant steel vat.

The first thing I wanted to know—is it delicious? I visited one of the labs of GOOD Meat to taste it for myself.

GOOD Meat, a subsidiary of the company Eat Just, began selling its lab-grown chicken direct-to-consumers in Singapore this past summer and recently received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, which means that it could be coming to a grocery store or restaurant near you. 

Except if, like me, you live in the Sunshine State. 

"Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere. We're not doing that in the state of Florida," declared Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis when he banned lab-grown meat last May, claiming that it's part of a left-wing conspiracy orchestrated by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Alabama followed in Florida's footsteps with its own ban. 

"This is really a vision of imposing restrictions on freedoms for everyday people while these elites are effectively pulling the strings, calling the shots, and doing whatever the hell they want to do in their own lives," said DeSantis. "These folks at, like, the World Economic Forum and Davos, they meet and they scheme. Those policies are dead on arrival in the state of Florida."

Cultivated meat has a ways to go before it can come close to satisfying global meat consumption. But, whether it's really just "nitrogen paste" or not, a majority of American consumers are open to trying it—60 percent of meat eaters say they're willing. The question is, will governments let them?

"The consumers should be able to decide what they want to eat," says Elfenbein. "That should determine whether or not this company succeeds or fails, not politicians opining about food safety."

Music Credits: "Dawn - Instrumental Version," by nuer self via Artlist; "Sunset," by nuer self via Artlist; "Bubbles Drop," by Cosmonkey via Artlist; "Life's Journey Begins," by Pitched Percussion via Artlist; "Dive," by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist.

Producer: Zach Weissmueller
Editor: Regan McDaniel
Color Correction: Cody Huff
Audio Production: Ian Keyser
Camera: Justin Zuckerman
Camera: James Marsh

[JackV-nc]

it should be the law that all lab-grown meat should be clearly labelled as such

[juangalton]

Citizens should be given options both natural and lab-grown without government regulation.

Let people vote in the free market with their dollars.

[LexiTheSaneLefty]

Let the people choose what they want to buy.

[dbackscott]

I really hate the paternalistic attitude by the government that they “know what’s best” for me. I’ll decide what I’m willing to put in my own body, thank you very much.

[MicahThomason]

I don't want fake meat. But, it's none of the governments business.

[SireStefan]

As soon as it is cheaper than regular meat, I am switching.

[spacefun]

This ban is ridiculous. Despite no one ever finding legitimate health concerns, they ban it over health concerns? That guy talked about the government not being all-knowing when it came to the health effects of cigarettes, but somehow it is all-knowing when it comes to the health effects of cultivated meat? That example is too funny because even though cigarettes actually have loads of scientific evidence backing their unhealthiness, they still aren’t banned.

[Frostblast]

To be honest, the cost is probably going to be a bigger issue than safety. To my knowledge he vat has no immune system so even a small contamination can ruin the batch and it would have to be thrown out. Losses like these would have to be factored into the production so we should expect lab-grown meat to be more expensive than regular animal meat.
An additional concern might be that they will attempt to supplement the lab-grown meat with seed oils to make it seem more fatty while keeping costs down. Of course the resulting product would not be fully meat anymore.
Overall being honest with he consumer is the most important, the market can decide the rest.

[alexanderhamm]

I'm interested in trying lab-grown meat... But I am disheartened to hear that what's for sale is 3% lab-grown animal tissue and 97% plant-based substitute. That isn't meat.

[curiousing]

I wouldn't touch this stuff with a 10-foot pole, but I also don't think government should be banning it. Requiring clear labeling, yes.

[Devious_Diddy]

Like other 1st world countries, companies should be required to name their products what they are (cell cultures similar to beef)

[Maxime_K-G]

Breaking news just in: Producer of wax candles says electric lighting is "bad idea"

[metallicafan]

The FDA saying something is safe doesn't mean a damn thing.

[yewo.m]

Aren't we all just bags of cellular, nitrogen-based protein paste?

[johnlaughlin]

Perfect example of someone who doesn't know what they're talking about, but is rightfully skeptical.

[daveh]

I am hopeful that this industry gains a foothold in meat processing. I find the increasing reliance on factory farms is not only potentially dangerous for outbreaks of disease but also cruel to the animals that must endure such captivity for their entire lives.

[Itsmesaucekayuchibi]

Politicians really do want to stop innovation and i think we as people are supporting that

[elijakubowicz]

Just a typical politician protecting his own interests

[marcobrod]

I think we libertarians have a nice lever to pull against the conservatives when they are being statist like this. Well done reason.

[michaellowe]

Banning this will lead to banning natural meat someday. Lets not give them any authority beyond labeling requirements.