If food heritage is so important to the people of Italy, and they agree that lab-grown meat is vastly inferior for all of the claimed reasons, I imagine lab-grown meat as a product would just flop. Why ban it, unless it's all just political theatre?
Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
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Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#12BBC journos have a specific editorial style, and no doubt it influenced this headline, but this isn't to "protect food heritage".
Food and drink accounts for a quarter of Italy's GDP. It's about money. Italy has a far-right government, which is extremely open to lobbying from that sector, and "heritage" is aligned with their nationalistic stance.
Try to look a bit deeper.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#13This seems no different than the ridiculous laws proposed in some US states recently that would ban EV sales to protect the oil and gas industries.
I’m sorry that people could one day lose jobs over this, but if lab-grown meat is proven to be a safe and cost/energy/carbon efficient alternative to raising and killing animals, then it would be insane to not pursue that.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#14Sounds like a law that is incompatible with EU.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#15I am italian, not sure i agree with this. I would have rather allow it (even if I would have probably not bought lab grown meat) and be sure it's well communicated during the sale (either on the package or from the vendor in case it's a butcher shop). Especially because we can't ban Monsanto's GMOs and I don't see how this is worse...
I am not Italian but think it’s a step in the right direction, but overreaches. I think they should make it law that synthetic meat can’t be called “meat” and that insect ‘flour’ can’t be called “flour”. And should have to be prefaced with “unnatural food product” or similar on all sides of packaging.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#16As an Italian, I can tell you this is just a move to grab some votes from their supporters. Lab meat is nowhere close to mass production so there is no real impact of this ban right now. When (and if) lab-grown meat becomes commonplace and, hence, cheaper than regular meat then the ban will be reverted as it would have negative implications on the country economy.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#17Sounds like a law that is incompatible with EU.
I think for now there's no EU law on the subject. When there will be one it will of course override the national one.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#18This seems no different than the ridiculous laws proposed in some US states recently that would ban EV sales to protect the oil and gas industries. I’m sorry that people could one day lose jobs over this, but if lab-grown meat is proven to be a safe and cost/energy/carbon efficient alternative to raising and killing animals, then it would be insane to not pursue that.
We could have equally banned internal combustion engines to protect the steam engine and buggy whip industries or phase change refrigeration to protect the jobs of the ice delivery companies.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#19This seems no different than the ridiculous laws proposed in some US states recently that would ban EV sales to protect the oil and gas industries. I’m sorry that people could one day lose jobs over this, but if lab-grown meat is proven to be a safe and cost/energy/carbon efficient alternative to raising and killing animals, then it would be insane to not pursue that.
Why would EVs threaten oil & gas industry - they contain lots of plastic that is currently made out of oil. Also electricity is still being generated from fossil fuels in many places. And I don't see stuff like diesel generators going away any time soon. Renewables won't help if a hospital loses power.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#20I am italian, not sure i agree with this. I would have rather allow it (even if I would have probably not bought lab grown meat) and be sure it's well communicated during the sale (either on the package or from the vendor in case it's a butcher shop). Especially because we can't ban Monsanto's GMOs and I don't see how this is worse...
I am not Italian but think it’s a step in the right direction, but overreaches. I think they should make it law that synthetic meat can’t be called “meat” and that insect ‘flour’ can’t be called “flour”. And should have to be prefaced with “unnatural food product” or similar on all sides of packaging.
Define 'natural product'. I bet there are thousands of items on shelves now that aren't 'natural' but still escape this scrutiny, just due to having been around a while and flying under the radar.