A nation that has a huge investment in food production establishes protectionist policies to secure those industries in the name of protecting its culture and its people's livelihood. Whether people on "the left" or "the right" agree or disagree comes down to the industry in question and never has anything to do with principle. Hypocrites all the way down.
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
#22Imagine the scandals of tomorrow. "Animal activists smuggle vat-grown prosciutto into gourmet food tasting. Recieve highest acclaim."
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#23BBC 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.
Yeah, pretty dubious phrasing. On the other hand, "protect food heritage" is so obviously a reframing that I didn't even concider that as the whole story.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#24This 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.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#25I 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.
As another Italiano I can totally confirm this.You can find here the most disparate and crazy proposals that are just clickbait nor will never be approved.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#26Good idea. Europe has enough fertile land to feed itself without GMO or lab grown stuff. No need to take long tail risks.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#27I 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.
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
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#28[deleted]
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#29I 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...
Yeah, allowing Monsanto or other seed tyrants to operate with impunity is not indicative of protecting "food heritage." This is just another example of an old but still powerful industry attacking what it perceives as a threat. The same sort of thing happened to absinthe in France, and that campaign was so successful absinthe became taboo for over a century.
GMO banning is another example of protectionism masquerading as something else. The demonization of Monsanto is diagnostic of the derangement/dishonesty.
Re: Italy moves to ban lab-grown meat to protect food heritage
#30Unpopular opinion: some controversial cultural heritages need protection. I single out tauromachy, which is incomprehensible to most, moreso the younger generations. The world is a tangle of Chesterton fences, and our righteous moral clariy is our own's worst enemy.
> The world is a tangle of Chesterton fences, and our righteous moral clariy is our own's worst enemy.
Intersting take.