Apparently PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has a new PR campaign…
The plan is to dish out 1 million dollars to the scientist that can basically grow meat in a test tube.
This type of in vitro meat production could cause a pretty big rise and open up some serious debate in the health and agricultural worlds, so after watching this show, I’d love to start the discussion here on the blog.
Annmarie and I also went to see Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food
Your question of the day? PETA’s invitro meat announcement… solution? PR Mistake? Marketing ploy? What do you think?
Click here, scroll down to the bottom of the page and post your comments!
BTW: If you want to learn more about Michael Pollan, please visit his website: click here
If you also want to learn more about the Yale Writer’s Series: click here
Live Awesome!
Kevin
PS. You can see pictures of me with Michael after the event! I really messed up the good one… go ahead and take a look to see what I mean: click here
7:53 pm on April 24th, 2008
If it is marketing, they have chosen poorly. I can’t get out of my head the picture of giant blender and some demented rancher shoving a cow into it. Kind of like a Gary Larson cartoon. I’m going to put more effort into being raw and vegetarian.
Jerry
*Were you happy sitting next to Michael Pollan?
8:36 pm on April 24th, 2008
Genetically modified food, cloned animals, now meat in a test tube. We are being asked to be subjects of a giant experiment. Count me out.
While it would be wonderful if our population were to all eat a raw, organic diet, it will not happen. But let’s continue to spread the word!
For those that wish to continue to eat meat, please lower your intake for your own sake, along with humane reasons.
And eat only free raised, naturally fed, humanely raised and harvested animals.
8:52 pm on April 24th, 2008
I enjoyed the visit with Micheal Pollan, don’t like want PETA is doing for any reason.
I have a question, concern–What type of water filtration system is best for the house. I was using distilled water because I thought it is better than tap, have purchased a reverse Osmosis system, but have not installed it yet because I am hearing it is not the best. Thanks
1:04 am on April 25th, 2008
Whatever PETA’s reasons, motives or???, the thought of any food from a test tube is just plain scary.
The path to your website was paved by a desire to discover ways of eliminating additives, preservatives…all chemicals and processed food from my diet.
The fact that the FDA has said cloned meat is safe to eat, simply tells me that their stamp of approval is most often a signal to run the other way.
I’m very happy I eliminated meat from my diet some time ago. I don’t miss it, and I feel terrific!
1:21 am on April 25th, 2008
Hi Kevin,
thank again for your daily show. I love it.
Well PETA Challenge to develop in vitro meat should come. Actually it should be not to difficult to product small amount of this new “food”, which would be cultivated muscle cells. It is easy to be, and in my medical research work I do it every day, but not with the same objectives. Of course it would be a “food” full of additives to bring the “meat” taste and the texture… they should not forgot the longtime conservation chemicals
I think it is a good Challenge if we could shut down factory farms, reduce environment poisoinment and bring something liking like meat to the meat-eater. I am vegan, so I will just observe this comedy. Customers lose their relationship between food and the way how food growth: in vitro meat is perfect and the industrie will continue to made a lot of money. Smarter guys will not buy that and stay healthy watching your great show.
bonne nuit
Jerome
1:24 am on April 25th, 2008
Kevin,
I just read one of other comment. As Biologist I will not drink distilled water. You will kill yourself slowly. The body need minerals in the water. Distilled water will extract your minerals from your body.
Filtrated water is different story
Jerome
3:00 am on April 25th, 2008
Great show Kevin!
How misguided are PETA here? Why are they wasting the money that lots of people fundraised for them to paying a scientist to produce something no-one is going to want. Like A1 said, if you are going to eat meat, have the gumption to raise and slaughter it yourself.
Frankenstein meat is right – why bother eating this muck when you can eat fresh, living alive foods which won’t have been scientifically fiddled around with.
I’m going to get into Michael Pollan’s writing now – thanks!
9:02 am on April 25th, 2008
Frankenmeat for sure. How can people think this would be ok to eat? It scares me. Genetically modified food, cloned meat, additives to our water. Drug companies. Very scary.
All this just encourages me to feed my family all the better.
Everybody thinks we are nuts, so be it.
I also am interested in what you might have to say about water filtration systems. I am searching for one at present also.
Mary
10:10 am on April 25th, 2008
Frankenmeat is better than eating animals! If all animal suffering could be spared than I think it is a good idea. People who eat meat are not health consious anyways. They eat meat because that is how they grew up and they never decided to think for themselves. Go vegan and save lives everyday, for your health and the environment. Animals are not food! If you must eat meat than test tube meat is better. The smart people will stay away from it anyway.
Alissa
12:36 pm on April 25th, 2008
Absolutely ridiculous and really scary!!! Those were the first thoughts that came to mind! What a waste of money too. I also really think that people that eat meat would not even consume something that was “created” in a test tube. This also puts PETA in a weird light…sounds like a publicity stunt that will backfire making them look quite foolish.
3:25 pm on April 25th, 2008
I hadn’t even heard of PETA until last week when we received a letter in the mail asking for a donation. My husband saw it when he got home from work and said he would never donate to PETA because they have some really weird ideas. Now I know what he was talking about.
I hope as more people hear about the cloning of meat, they become aware of just how meat is coming to their table, now and in the future. I’m really hoping it will be an eye opener for at least a few who will decide to become vegetarian, vegan or raw.
7:38 pm on April 25th, 2008
publicity ploy
5:28 pm on April 27th, 2008
PETA promotes veganism because it is in line with their philosophy of animal rights. As this, and not health, is their focus, it is quite logical that they would promote a product which is essentially meat but which does not involve causing harm to conscious beings.
The way I see it, meat isn’t very healthy as it is. Those searching for an alternative to meat and who would be willing to eat in-vitro meat in the first place probably aren’t concerned with their health very much to begin with. Until those people do start caring about their health, I think the only thing lost in a project like this is the cruelty which would have otherwise been inflicted on animals.
2:10 pm on April 28th, 2008
Hi Lauren,
By ‘conscious beings’, did you mean animals, because I would consider cloned meat to be more harmful than regular meat for humans..who are also conscious beings.
1:34 am on April 30th, 2008
I find it unsettling that there are so many arrogant, ignorant people out there who think they can improve on NATURE! It is time for such people to be put in there place and/or removed from their positions.
When will our society, globally, return to a natural, healthy, life-enhancing life style. I can hardly wait to embrace it,with all the love of my heart.
5:09 am on April 30th, 2008
Great PeTA-idea. For more backgroud-information, technology, ethics and success-criteria on „in-vitro-meat“ (others call it „cultured meat“) visit http://www.futurefood.org . There are still many obstacles to overcome. On this website other alternatives to animal meat are presented, too. An inspiration for the future!
1:01 pm on April 30th, 2008
Test tube meat is just another version of a meat substitute. There are many “substitutes” already available and those that eat meat still want “real” meat off an animal for some reason. But it’s worth a try to at least offer it and see what happens. It would be nice if people would just get it through their heads that raising animals for food is bad for the environment (worse than all the vehicles we drive), it is inhumane and we could feed far more people in the world if we didn’t use all that grain to feed the billions of animals. It requires will power and personal sacrifice to really make a difference and let’s face it a lot of people don’t like to make sacrifices. Pretty sad.
1:32 pm on April 30th, 2008
I too had blogged about this, and to my surprise, most of my readers just found it too gross to contemplate.
2:25 pm on April 30th, 2008
I think besides taste, there are a lot of people who still eat meat because they think it is good for them and that without it, they cannot get enough protein. It has been so heavily marketed that way, that they shrug off any suggestion otherwise. I think education has to start at that level, where people learn they do not have to eat meat to get enough protein. I also think it is important for them to learn just how it affects the percentage of fat and cholesterol in their diet, and ulitmately their health, among other things, and I think if an organization wants to use donated money to help decrease animal consumption in the western world, it would be better spent on advertising and educational programs to enlighten the public, not only in these areas, but also in areas that have to do with animal cruelty, environmental consciousness and use of pesticides/herbicides and antibiotics in raising animals. People didn’t want to hear that smoking was bad for their health either, but through educational programs, eventually, everyone at least knows about the hazards now, enough to make a conscious decision in one direction or another. It took a while for people to learn of the danger of trans fatty acids, but now it is becoming a household word. These are just a few examples of how money spent on education can really work, if it is an ‘in your face’ type of educational program…not just one for people who are interested in learning about nutrition already. The information has to get out to everyone!
6:57 pm on May 1st, 2008
I believe in many things that PETA does and stands for. I am a PETA member. However I do not agree with any Genetically modified food, cloned meat, etc. The solution is simple, Don’t eat meat. If you choose to not eat meat, why try to simulate it. You either eat meat or you don’t. there should be no middle ground. I can understand PETA’S plight, however this time I think the soultion is not a good one. I will continue to Support PETA’S efforts to stop animal cruelty.
1:17 am on May 7th, 2008
I saw your video about lit erring and you asked what we do about it in our city. I live in Edmonton in province of Alberta, Canada. Here we have a city wide program called Capital City Clean up. What happens is people volunteer to pick op litter in a few city blocks during the summer months. I volunteer for the program and I feel quit good seen my neighborhood looking presentable to the world and for sure I am helping the environment also,
Thank you for asking,
Tieta Crerar