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Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

bbc.co.uk

181–190 of 474 posts

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Italy was the lab for modern populism in politics for 20-30 years. The nation is suffering from corrupt politicians like Berlusconi having tight bonds with the mafia. Don't put this on "the people" who can barely do much if the whole system is undermined by their leadership for decades.

People did elect both Berlusconi and the current government.

Germans also did elect Hitler's party as a majority in the last couple of elections before he assumed power. That's not the point.

The point is that some stakeholders of the political class worked on hollowing out the Italian political system for 2-3 decades. And corruption is an issue in economical growth.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#182
post #24

This 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.

Sure, but that’s a huge if — especially regarding safety and nutrition.

One factor I am suprised no one seems to be mentioning is taste. In the absence of quality tests for how well lab-grown meat serves as a nutritional substitute, I would think taste would be a good metric. Perhaps even better than tests, since nutritional science still contains a lot of unknowns.

Taste is also serves as a good metric, because it supports human happiness and enjoyment. A big factor.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#183
post #176
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but if lab-grown meat is proven to be a safe We need to fully understand its safety, nutritional content, and long-term health effects. Our understanding of the full biochemical spectrum of our diets is still limited. Therefore, it's important to ensure that lab-grown meat adequately replicates the complex array of nutrients and other beneficial compounds found in conventionally produced meat. Long-term effects: Si…

Nassim Nicholas Taleb: """ I am scared of living in a society that doesn't find it obvious that things perfected by nature over millions of years are scientifically speaking, safer than things made by some "scientists" in a lab. Statistically, the "large n" of nature makes it > scientific. """ https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1172495876717273088

> I am scared of living in a society that doesn't find it obvious that things perfected by nature over millions of years are scientifically speaking, safer than things made by some "scientists" in a lab.

This is the "natural corn" you consume vs. the actual natural corn: https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/670657

Same goes for all "natural things" you eat.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#184
post #46
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't have to be "far right" or "nationalistic" to not want to destroy your economy

If your economy is entirely dependent on a doomed industry, maybe, instead of artificially keeping it alive, focus on modernising that economy instead?

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Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#185
post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody described "food" as a doomed industry, but the practice of slaughtering animals for protein if better alternatives become available (which they definitely are not yet, not even long term).

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Ah yes, the scheming, devious vegan agenda of animal rights.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#186
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but if lab-grown meat is proven to be a safe We need to fully understand its safety, nutritional content, and long-term health effects. Our understanding of the full biochemical spectrum of our diets is still limited. Therefore, it's important to ensure that lab-grown meat adequately replicates the complex array of nutrients and other beneficial compounds found in conventionally produced meat. Long-term effects: Si…

> We need to fully understand its safety, nutritional content, and long-term health effects. This is the same "reasoning" that ultimately led to ban on most GMO foods like actual long-term tasty tomatos. For some reason we demand significantly stricter controls over anything "lab-grown" than on anything "natural". Note: I'm not calling for lax controls. I'm callling for controls that are not more stringent than those…

> This is the same "reasoning" that ultimately led to ban on most GMO foods like actual long-term tasty tomatos.

Long-term tasty tomatos are a good thing but what about impossibility to breed my own tomato seeds if GMO will win 100% of the market?

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have nothing but farm for hours just 10 minutes from house in the EU. There's a lot more than "services, tourism, and tech."

Of course, but with automation and modern mass farming techniques it represents 1% of the jobs it used to, the rest of the population has been pushed out in services &co If the future Google of lab grown meats comes in the game you'll get even more centralisation, less small/medium exploitations, and most likely 0 local production given the barrier to entry

> Every industry is doomed when developing countries can do the same for half the price... Which is exactly why Europe delocalised a lot of industries in the first place and is now mostly stuck with services, tourism and tech.

This seems false, if there is uninterrupted farmland for hours, regardless of what % EU farms employed?

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can't be serious, it's obvious that EVs curb oil and gas consumption and profits.

How is that obvious? At least in the U.S., there is a pretty high chance that nonrenewables are charging your battery.

That depends. If you live in Iowa, or Kansas there is a high chance your EV is charged entirely from wind power. Both states are exporting to other nearby states (which are also building more wind). Texas also has a lot of wind generation (more than the above two combined), but their population is larger so overall it comes out to less. CA has a lot of solar power (more deserts should), though I'm not sure how much.

However if you live in other states you may find that roadblocks have been put in place and so your power has to come from non-renewables. Make no mistake, the limit is more legal than practical these days, renewables can easily be most of your power mix, and are already the cheapest source of power.

Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#189
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Could you explain your reasoning? The unnatural food product stickers sounds like a health warning but for what? I already buy stuff like oat milk and it never bothered me that it's not actually milk. Same with plant based butters etc

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Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage

#190

This 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.

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Italians recognize that food is just as much about taste, enjoyment and life satisfaction than it is about nutrition. Suppose we could have all our meals with just a pill and still fulfill all our nutritional needs, would it be better? Not if the taste is inferior. Or it interferes with our daily rituals.
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