The public outcry has become so intense that these GMO companies have recently banded together to provide a website, GMOAnswers.com, which explains their side of the story and the science. That underlines the fact that the public’s growing awareness, distaste, and increasingly viral criticism is serious enough for these rivals to become bedfellows. They probably wouldn’t be willing if it wasn’t looking likely it could hurt their future business.
A “Frankenburger” could easily become slotted in the same creepy category, with fears that humans would be walking guinea pigs if it came to market.
Then again, if we find out that GMOs turn out to do weird things to people’s health, what would be the difference in adding Frankenburgers to the mix? Our food supply contains interesting technology as it is.
The search for more responsible meat: Are you feeling lucky?
According to the tasters — and Brin wasn’t even one of those — the burger received a mixed reception. Among the reactions: It lacked conventional burgers’ delicious fat factor, it needed condiments, and it floated somewhere between a Boca Burger and a McDonald’s patty as opposed to something more palatable like Angus or Kobe beef. Another comment — “it’s close to meat” — doesn’t sound particularly appetizing. It’s meat-like?
There are many ways this could be an interesting turn of events. Would “protein companies” embrace such technology or revile it? The truth is, it may come down to whether such technology could achieve enough popularity and scale to become a highly profitable alternative to raising livestock for slaughter.
Brin’s obviously an intelligent guy. His influence has helped with some of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s more interesting initiatives beyond search, such as the self-driving car and Google Glass. He’s one of the individuals who crafted Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) to experiment in unexpected areas that management believes one day will provide growth. He’s used his own financial resources to further space initiatives, too.
Lab-grown meat is nowhere near perfection or commercial distribution, obviously. Still, its very existence points out a fascinating juxtaposition in the increasingly popular “food ethics” category. Is a lab-grown burger the answer to factory farming and animal brutalization?
Could the potential benefits to the environment one day outweigh the creep factor in reaction right now? Could it help drive more food to the hungry, since fewer crops would be grown for feed, and more would be grown for people? The GMO companies and proponents have long contended that their crops can help major problems around the globe by providing, say, drought-resistance that would allow farmers in more countries increase their food supplies.
Maybe people should embrace alternatives like this one; for those who refuse to embrace vegetarianism or veganism, it’s certainly a viable choice (although apparently this type of burger couldn’t hit the market for 20 to 30 years). Maybe meat-eaters should, but the big question is whether they would. Would you?
The article Would You Eat Lab-Grown Meat? Maybe You Should. originally appeared on Fool.com is written by Alyce Lomax.
Alyce Lomax owns shares of Whole Foods Market. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Google, McDonald’s, and Whole Foods Market.
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